Bin It Right: A Rapid-Fire Design Challenge

'Bin It Right' was honoured as one of the top 20 finalists and received an Honorable Mention in the Global Gamers Challenge by Flutter. The project highlighted the power of game design in promoting environmental awareness and taught us valuable lessons in rapid development and effective team collaboration.

Team - 4 Designers, 2 Developers

Role - Lead Designer

Duration - 1 Week

Client - Flutter Global Gamers Challenge 2024

"Bin It Right" is an educational mobile game where players sort waste into wet and dry categories using a moving dump truck with two compartments. Created for the Global Gamers Challenge by Flutter, the game combines entertainment with environmental education, making sustainability engaging and interactive.

The goal was to create an educational game that combines entertainment with environmental awareness. The challenge was not only to design a simple yet impactful game but to do so within an extremely tight deadline. With just one week to conceptualize, design, develop, and submit the game, the project demanded intense focus, rapid iteration, and seamless collaboration.

We explored games like Subway Surfers, Hill Climb Racing, Timberman, and Dumb Ways to Die to grasp game mechanics, player engagement, and sprite sheet animation. Our research also covered level design, user interface flow, and sound integration—crucial for immersion. This research guided our design, helping us create Bin It Right as an engaging, visually compelling game that effectively blends education with fun, intuitive controls, and rewarding progression.

We began with a brainstorming session on sustainability-themed games, generating ideas like a trash removal game and mini-games focused on daily eco-friendly actions. Considering our one-week deadline, we streamlined our focus to a simpler yet impactful concept: a game focused on waste segregation. This approach was selected for its clear educational value and achievable scope within the time constraints.

With our concept finalized, we mapped out the core gameplay mechanics: an eco-friendly vehicle that continuously moves forward while players drag and drop wet or dry waste into the correct sections of the vehicle before it passes by. We identified the key assets needed for the game, including sprite sheets for the vehicle and waste items, UI components, and educational dialogue boxes. This planning phase also involved breaking down tasks among the team to ensure efficient use of our limited time.

We crafted a user-friendly interface with a vibrant color palette and clear typography to enhance accessibility. Smooth sprite animations were designed and developed alongside educational content to ensure visual clarity and engagement. Using Flutter, we efficiently integrated these assets, with regular check-ins ensuring a seamless handover between design and development.

The game was rigorously tested to identify and resolve any bugs or issues, leading to last-minute adjustments in gameplay balance and the timing of educational prompts. We prepared all required submission materials, including detailed documentation, a YouTube short showcasing the game, and screenshots of our work. The project was submitted on time and was recognized as one of the top 20 finalists in the Global Gamers Challenge by Flutter.

The game underwent rigorous testing, revealing strong player engagement and effective educational content delivery. These insights confirmed the game’s success in maintaining user interest and promoting environmental awareness.

We aim to elevate Bin It Right by adding dynamic levels and challenges, incorporating user-generated content, and integrating practical waste reduction tips. Collaborations with environmental organizations and efforts to optimize accessibility will enhance its impact. Our goal is to transform Bin It Right into a powerful platform for global sustainability awareness and action.

'Bin It Right' earned a spot as a top 20 finalist with an Honorable Mention in Flutter's Global Gamers Challenge, showcasing our skill in merging education with engaging gameplay under a tight deadline. This recognition underscores the impact of game design in promoting environmental awareness and reinforced our expertise in rapid development and teamwork.