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FROM MY CREATIVE SANDBOX

MONOPOLY MAPPED

I often explore how UX thinking applies to products beyond traditional digital ones. This project is one such experiment—translating the structure and flow of a classic board game into a user experience framework. Monopoly became the perfect candidate to explore how game mechanics mirror user journeys.

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This exploration reimagines the classic board game Monopoly through a UX design lens. By mapping the gameplay into a structured flow, I translated complex rules and decision-making moments into a clear, visual user journey. The intent was to demonstrate how even playful, non-digital systems can benefit from UX analysis—uncovering user goals, decision points, feedback loops, and opportunities for simplification or enhancement.

BREAKING IT DOWN

Flowchart (2).png

The game’s many rules, decisions, and feedback loops make it a useful proxy for complex products.

By mapping it into stages, I was able to:

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Simplify complexity by turning scattered rules into a structured journey.

Spot friction points where players face confusion, delays, or overload — much like users in digital systems.

Surface opportunities for clarity and engagement, from onboarding to progression.

Practice abstraction by applying UX thinking to a non-digital system, demonstrating how methods can be transferred across various contexts.

THE OUTCOME

ONBOARDING​

  • Friction points: Long, text-heavy rules overwhelm new players.

  • Opportunities: A quick reference guide/ tutorial video or guided setup to ease entry.

  • Abstraction: Mirrors product onboarding where first-time users need clarity and confidence.

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LOOP INITIATION

  • Friction points: Players lose track of the order of actions; long waiting times create disengagement.

  • Opportunities: Visual prompts or digital indicators could keep the flow smooth.

  • Abstraction: Similar to long loading times without load indicators for pages/between steps

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ACTION TRIGGER

  • Friction points: Decision overload when faced with multiple branching choices.

  • Opportunities: Show options with clear consequences and immediate feedback.

  • Abstraction: Reflects waterfall decision points in digital UX (e.g., checkout, upgrade, decline).

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GAME PROGRESSION

  • Friction points: Trades become drawn-out negotiations, and tracking assets is cumbersome.

  • Opportunities: Timed turns and play planning help streamline player actions

  • Abstraction: Similar to dashboards, goal tracking, and account management in digital products.

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GAME END

  • Friction points: The ending can feel unclear or anticlimactic, especially for losing players.

  • Opportunities: Provide a summary with fun stats, highlights, or secondary achievements for all players.

  • Abstraction: Mirrors how digital products use rewards, goal tracking and break down progress into sizeable goals to extend user engagement and interest.

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