Can serious games help us understand the algorithms we encounter everyday?

Self-initiated project
MFA Diploma project

2015

Science communication

Every day we let algorithms take decisions on our behalf. Back in 2015, I wanted to explain how some of these algorithms work. So I created Alma, short for Algorithmic matter. Alma is a kit of 3 serious games designed to help us understand Facebook Newsfeed, Google PageRank and Siri's algorithms. Alma lets us play with and as the algorithms using physical tokens and digital interfaces. Alma is about learning by playing.

award ribbon

Alma received the Label Observeur du Design in 2017, and was exhibited at L’Institut Français, in Milan, during the Triennale « Broken Nature » in 2019.

Card test with conductive inkUser testing session with an advanced prototypeApp design mockupsNotebook with drawings and smartphone appLow resolution prototype combining paper with an iPadToken 3D modeling 3D printing with conductive plastic powderUser testing session with an early prototype
Photo with all the project pieces: tokens, iPad and iPhone app, VR headset