- "A game about networking: a playful critical reflection on the self-improving and productive act of connecting with others in order to advance in your career and get access to work and money."
- The concept of meaningful work derailed outside the working hours and is haunting each moment of our lives - professional and personal.
- Over the course of a Century the way we work, connect and rest changed remarkably.
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A game about networking:
a playful critical reflection
on the self-improving and
productive act of connecting
with others in order to
advance in your career and
get access to work
and money.
- |-
The concept of meaningful
work derailed outside
the working hours and
is haunting each moment
of our lives - professional
and personal.
- |-
Over the course of a
Century the way we work,
connect and rest
changed remarkably.
- At first, we tried to make each working minute productive by improving the process and production line.
- Later, the need to be productive collided with the need to develop a professional career with which we identify ourselves.
- Of course, our efforts to be better and improve ourselves slowly went outside our professional life (and the working hours).
- The boundaries between personal and professional, between work and leisure became blurrier and blurrier for various jobs and professions.
- |-
Later, the need to be
productive collided with
the need to develop
a professional career with
which we identify ourselves.
- |-
Of course, our efforts to
be better and improve
ourselves slowly
went outside
our professional life
(and the working hours).
- |-
The boundaries between
personal and professional,
between work and leisure
became blurrier and
blurrier for various jobs
and professions.
- "Networking is quite crucial for our work and success, isn't it?"
- The better we are connected, the more opportunities we have. The more opportunities we get, the more chances we have to get work.
- Your success and wellbeing depend on how connected you are. The more, the merrier.
- However, some of us might feel the pressure to network constantly and to be out there to look for opportunities.
- The fear of missing out. The regret about opportunities never reached and taken. All the anxiety that those thoughts may bring.
- In this silly game you and your partner(s) will explore ways to connect to other well-connected creatures like you (by each of you choosing one shape such as circle, square or triangle).
- Whilst playing, you are invited to reflect on the need for networking and social work connections. Have a simple conversation while doodling.
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The better we are
connected, the more
opportunities we have.
The more opportunities
we get, the more chances
we have to get work.
- |-
Your success and wellbeing
depend on how connected
you are. The more,
the merrier.
- |-
However, some of us
might feel the pressure to
network constantly and
to be out there to look
for opportunities.
- |-
The fear of missing out.
The regret about
opportunities
never reached and taken.
All the anxiety that
those thoughts may bring.
- |-
In this silly game you and
your partner(s) will explore
ways to connect to other
well-connected creatures
like you (by each of you
choosing one shape such
as circle, square or triangle).
- |-
Whilst playing, you are
invited to reflect on the need
for networking and social
work connections.
Have a simple conversation
while doodling.
- "Let's start: check out the rules of the game!"
- Rules
- 1) Pick up a board for 2 or 3 players depending on how many you are.
- 2) Each of you picks up one symbol (circle, square, triangle).
- "3) Each player takes one turn one after another: with each turn connect two of your chosen symbols on the board and answer one of the reflection questions."
- The second player does the same, but can also already respond to what player 1 said.
- When everyone takes their first turn, they continue the line from the symbol they ended at the previous turn. Thus, you are already connecting a chain of your symbols.
- "4) In order to connect your symbols, you should doodle a line between them. That line is not allowed to touch any other lines or symbols other than the two symbols it's connecting."
- 5) You are not allowed to cross another connection either.
- 1) Pick up a board for two or three players depending on how many you are.
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2) Each of you
picks up one symbol
(circle, square, triangle).
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3) Each player takes one
turn one after another:
with each turn connect
two of your chosen
symbols on the board
and answer one of the
reflection questions.
- |-
The second player does the
same, but can also already
respond to what
player one said.
- |-
When everyone takes their first turn, they continue the line from the symbol they ended at the previous turn. Thus, you are already connecting a chain of
your symbols.
- |-
4) In order to connect your
symbols, you should doodle
a line between them. That
line is not allowed to touch
any other lines or symbols
other than the two
symbols it's connecting.
- |-
5) You are not allowed
to cross another
connection either.
- The game ends for each player when they are stuck and not being able to connect any more symbols without crossing a line or touching other symbols or the borders of the board.
- When that happens for one player of two, the game ends. The one who cannot connect more loses the game. When the players are three, the other two players can continue until another one gets stuck in the same way.
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When that happens for one player of two, the game ends. The one who cannot connect more loses the game. When the players are three, the other two players can continue until another one gets stuck in the
same way.
- The winner is the one who is still able to connect more symbols. If you touch other lines, symbols or the border of the game board whilst you are drawing your line, you lose the game immediately.
- "What if the winner is the one who is the first to leave the game? #PlotTwist! What would that change in the game? And what in the real life?"
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What if the winner is the one who is the first to leave the game? #PlotTwist! What would that change in the game? And what in the
real life?
- Reflection Questions
- "How to enjoy playing this game? Get a drink and sit down with your friend(s). Pick a board and start connecting the symbols you have selected. Whilst doing that, let's talk about connections:"
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How to enjoy playing this game? Get a drink and sit down with your friend(s).
Pick a board and start
connecting the symbols
you have selected.
Whilst doing that, let's talk
about connections:
- What is networking for you?
- Is your work(life) dependent on networking? If yes, how?
- How do you feel about networking?
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How do you feel
about networking?
- How important is networking for you personally?
- How are social connections important in your personal life?
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How are social connections
important in your
personal life?
- How do you network?
- Is it ok for you if you are not super connected to many people?
- What is your way to finding work?
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Is it ok for you if you are
not super connected to
many people?
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What is your way to
finding work?
- What is your way to connect to others?
- Does networking bring any challenges for you?
- What does a networking opportunity mean to you?
- How do you feel when you are unable to take a networking opportunity?
- Would you like to ask your game partner anything else about networking and social connections?
- Dear Player, The Crossword Imaginary Grid Game found you for a reason.
- The aim of this game is to create a crossword grid with your hands and explore a part of the Glossary of Productive Play. There is a printed grid for you here, but if you want more, visit https://issue.xpub.nl/17/. Take some time (leisure or productive?), place the pieces on a surface, on a wall, on your bed, on your cat's body.. and start playing!
- The aim of this game is to create a crossword grid with your hands and explore a part of the Glossary of Productive Play. There is a printed grid for you here, but if you want more, visit the website of this Special Issue. Take some time (leisure or productive?), place the pieces on a surface, on a wall, on your bed, on your cat's body.. and start playing!
- "Position the coded-papers to recreate the grid. Follow the following scheme for every category:"
- img: imaginarygrid_structure.jpg
alt: "Crossword Imaginary Grid structure"
alt: ""
- "I know it might sound complicated now, but I promise you that you will understand how to make it work while playing. There are four things you have to keep attention to while creating the grid:"
- 1. A code (e.g. B7), composed of a letter and a number, defines the position in the imaginary grid. 2. The papers with the clues are not to be used during the grid's construction. 3. A content category gathers all the definitions that are part of the same crossword (e.g. loot box). 4. The papers having the same code could represent an intersection or the presence of two definitions, one going down and the other across. Find out which is which!
