Gooey Gut Trail: Demystifying Human Gut Health Through a Board Game

Human gut health is influenced by a range of factors; however, it is often perceived through a single lens-the food we eat. With the increase in auto-immune disorders, having a holistic understanding of gut health factors is imperative. In an attempt to extend this perception of gut health beyond just food to other major factors that influence it, we designed a board game, called Gooey Gut Trail (GGT). GGT aims to create awareness and enable self-reflection amongst players through the introduction of real-world human actions and interactions that influence gut health. The game involves the use of natural accessories of a physical dining context to enable a contextual understanding of gut health. In this pictorial, we present our design process involving the synthesis and presentation of scientific literature through play; offer a critical reflection on key design decisions and the challenges addressed; elaborate on the iterative process involved in the development of a domestic science-based research product and our future plans.