Overview
I designed an accessible interface around the realities of older adult players: simple controls, generous hit areas, clear reading order, and consequences that read at a glance. On the game design side I helped shape the core mechanics, drawing from classic point-and-click titles but tuned for beginners and tested against real mobility and cognitive constraints. Alongside the design work I ran the project: cross-functional team, timelines, milestones, and the marketing and business development around positioning the game for an older audience.
Outcome
Detective DeDe received funding from the South Australian Film Corporation and was one of five projects selected for development in South Australia. The game launched and proved out the thesis: older adults will engage deeply with a narrative-driven game when the controls, pacing, and interface respect how they actually play.
What I learned
Designing for older adults taught me that accessibility isn’t a checklist on top of a finished design — it’s the design. Testing control schemes early, watching older players hold the device, and rebuilding flows around what they actually did (not what the brief assumed) changed the game more than any visual pass could have. Running the project end-to-end alongside the design work also sharpened how I balance creative ambition with the constraints a small team can actually ship inside.