phantom footprint
closing the climate feedback loop

Challenge: Making climate consequences tangible for college students.
Solution: An IoT-enhanced, physical board game.

Lead UX Designer, Researcher, Prototyper

Design Thinking

Arduino Uno, RFID

Figma

4 Months (Thesis Project)

Phantom Footprint - IoT-enhanced board game for climate education

chapter i

The Problem

Overwhelmed User.

Climate education is inaccessible, abstract, and doesn't connect daily actions to global outcomes. Users feel disconnected from the consequences of their choices.

Persona: The Digital Nomad Student - Alex, 22

The College Student Archetype: Wanting Impact, Lacking Tools.

They are digitally engaged but feel passive about climate change.

Passive learner vs. socially active advocate
Need immediate, tangible feedback
Desire for meaningful action

The Opportunity: Interactivity > Simulation.

Existing tools (calculators, digital apps) lack the hands-on, immediate, emotional connection required for behavioral change.

Boring screen vs tactile game comparison

chapter ii

Technologies

From Paper Prototype to Tangible Mechanic.

Rapid prototyping phase using Double Diamond methodology. The game mechanic is built around choice cards representing daily actions with environmental consequences.

Mapping Action to Immediate Feedback (Arduino + RFID).

The core innovation: using RFID to scan a choice card and trigger an LED status light (red/yellow/green) via Arduino. This closes the feedback loop instantly, connecting user actions to environmental consequences.

From Wiring to Final Assembly.

Showcasing the hands-on nature of full-stack design thinking: digital UX combined with physical product development. Soldering, wiring, and final assembly of the board and sensor mechanism.

A/B test comparison - game interface and feedback system iterations

Testing Ambiguity. Improving Nuance.

Key finding from usability testing: players craved nuance over simple positive/negative feedback. Iteration added a medium impact category (yellow LED) to better reflect real-world complexity.

Code

Every great interaction begins with elegant code. The RFID-to-LED mapping was built using Arduino's MFRC522 library, reading card data, writing feedback states, and triggering visual responses in under 50 lines of C++.

Simple, modular, and intentional. The code embodies the same design philosophy as the game itself: clarity over complexity.

phantom_footprint.ino

#include <SPI.h>

#include <MFRC522.h>

#define RST_PIN 9

#define SS_PIN 10

MFRC522 rfid(SS_PIN, RST_PIN);

void setup() {

Serial.begin(9600);

SPI.begin();

rfid.PCD_Init();

Serial.println("Scan your RFID card...");

}

void loop() {

if (!rfid.PICC_IsNewCardPresent())

return;

String cardType = "Positive";

writeDataToCard(cardType);

rfid.PICC_HaltA();

delay(2000);

}

void writeDataToCard(String data) {

byte block = 1;

byte buffer[16] = {};

data.getBytes(buffer, 16);

}

chapter iii

The Resolution

Bridging the Gap. 90% Engagement.

“The LED system helped players connect their choices to tangible results.”

— User Testing Feedback

Immediate feedback led to deeper reflection. Players connected choices to consequences, creating meaningful behavioral awareness.

Double Diamond Framework

simplicity, iteration, and the power of physical ux.

Simplicity Matters

Clear feedback over complex systems

Iterative Design is Key

Testing revealed nuance requirements

Immediate Feedback is Crucial

Closing the action-consequence loop

Scope: From Campus Game to Global Platform.

Future vision includes expanding to younger audiences, gamifying the concept further into a digital companion app, and creating scalable educational tools for climate awareness.

Players engaging with Phantom Footprint game

Final Phantom Footprint game board design

Phantom Footprint product iterations and components

thank you

next project

phantom footprint
closing the climate feedback loop