Theory of Interaction Design by Nicki

nbrienwhilby0120231_1 — 2025-05-09 00:42:54 UTC

From the Week 1 and 2 lectures on semiotics, player perception and abstraction, I wanted to explore how design can communicate meaning.

I briefly read a PDF I found on the Sean Hall book mentioned in the lecture in Week 1 - (https://visualorganization.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/semiotics_thismeansthat.pdf)

However, I only started the essay on Week 4 when we were introduced to Flow theory and we covered Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's Flow model.

Through Week 6 and 7, the discussion of identity and representation gave me the full idea on what I could culturally reflect upon for Part 2.

I drew upon two major questions:

What makes a game feel immersive?
Why are Caribbean identities still misrepresented in games and media?

nbrienwhilby0120231_1 — 2025-05-09 00:43:41 UTC

nbrienwhilby0120231_1 — 2025-05-09 00:43:55 UTC

When hit in Bloodbourne, Heaton’s loop and Flow condition of ‘immediate feedback.’ Combat reinforces learning moment by moment.

nbrienwhilby0120231_1 — 2025-05-09 00:44:06 UTC

"Caribbean-coded stereotypes.”

nbrienwhilby0120231_1 — 2025-05-09 00:44:27 UTC

Week 2: Explored player perception

Week 4: Focused on Flow
Week 5: Started writing Essay 1
Week 6: Shifted Essay 2 to CoD
Week 7: Drafted both essays

nbrienwhilby0120231_1 — 2025-05-09 11:29:29 UTC

📁 Key Theories and Concepts

nbrienwhilby0120231_1 — 2025-05-09 11:41:50 UTC

Affordance & Norman (Attach PDF or quote from “Discoverability” slides).

nbrienwhilby0120231_1 — 2025-05-09 13:01:10 UTC

nbrienwhilby0120231_1 — 2025-05-09 13:51:44 UTC

The minimalist UI shows the Flow theory through the reduction of distraction - pushing a deeper concentration to the game itself.

“Combining Flow with affordance design showed me that interaction isn’t just input—it’s communication between player and system.”
(Csikszentmihalyi, 1991, p.138)

nbrienwhilby0120231_1 — 2025-05-09 14:01:48 UTC

Hall (1997) on stereotyping and representation in media: (https://bgsmediastudies.weebly.com/uploads/8/9/4/2/894215/stuart_hall_representation_theory.pdf).

nbrienwhilby0120231_1 — 2025-05-09 14:05:38 UTC

Connecting media portrayal to gameplay.

nbrienwhilby0120231_1 — 2025-05-09 14:06:57 UTC

I did consider GTA: Vice City as they have a few stereotypes, especially Caribbean, in their game yet I thought GTA is a satire game so I didn't really feel as though it was appropriate.

nbrienwhilby0120231_1 — 2025-05-09 14:10:31 UTC

Upon researching Flow and representation, I had to adapt and change the way I viewed games.

Part 1 made me respect the complexity of good design and how much effort goes towards it.

Part 2 made me reflect on how a poor use of this complexity can dish out harsh stereotypes and misrepresentation.