Boola Dash is a Yale-themed infinite side-scroller game created in collaboration with Amoriem Labs and the Yale Alumni Association. The game features Handsome Dan racing across familiar campus landmarks, designed to connect alumni and students through a playful, nostalgic experience. I was one of three artists on the team, contributing to the visual identity, interface, and overall user experience.
The Yale Alumni Association wanted a fun and interactive way to engage alumni. Existing methods like newsletters and events were not always accessible or exciting, so the challenge was to create a lightweight, universally engaging medium that alumni could connect with instantly.
Our team developed a side-scrolling game that combined Yale traditions with accessible gameplay. I designed the title screen and in-game interface, ensuring the UI was both intuitive and visually consistent. I also created one of the two background environments, named the game “Boola Dash,” and suggested a leaderboard feature to encourage friendly competition rooted in alumni pride.
We drew inspiration from existing alumni engagement efforts and traditions, studying how competition and nostalgia drive participation. I also researched mobile game UI patterns to make the interface approachable for both casual players and alumni less familiar with games.
This project showed me how UI design can shape the player’s first impression and overall experience. By focusing on interface clarity and brand storytelling, I learned how small details can turn a casual game into a community-building tool.
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