Project Overview
Toggle emerged from speculative design research and evolved into a conceptual model for a social gaming café blending play, inclusion, and charitable impact. Inspired by models like Humble Bundle and classic internet café culture, Toggle imagined how gaming spaces, physical and digital, could foster empathy, shared experiences, and community-driven fundraising.
This multi-phase project emphasized rapid prototyping, systems thinking, and brand-driven interaction design. While not focused on a functioning product, Toggle explored how tangible environments could support playful engagement through consistent visual identity and purpose-driven design.
Toggle Logo
❓ Problem Space
Traditional gaming environments can feel overstimulating, exclusive, or overly commercial. This project questioned:
How can design welcome diverse players while fostering emotional belonging?
How can communal gaming spaces also serve social good?
Design Challenge: Create a concept for a gaming space that:
Blends physical environments with digital motifs.
Centers community and playtesting over profit.
Channels revenue toward charitable causes.
🎨 My Role
This was a fast-paced, independent graduate project, refined through:
Collaborative critique sessions, improvisational design reviews, and iterative prototyping.
Ownership of branding and visual identity, from menus to logos, merchandise, and café touchpoints.
System-level thinking to connect the in-store experience with broader philanthropic goals and potential partner engagement for data and playtesting feedback loops.
Tools
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Google Suite
Toggle's visual identity system — menus, correspondence templates, and brand guidelines — reflect a cohesive pixel-based aesthetic grounded in warmth and accessibility.
Key UX & Product Design Insights
Rapid Iteration: Generated and evolved 11+ concept versions, adapting to new critiques and merging/disentangling ideas with peers.
Product-System Concepting: Envisioned a hybrid subscription model, in-store rental system, and company partnerships for game demo feedback loops.
Design Communication: Learned to advocate for evolving ideas and design in flux, balancing feedback and creative autonomy.
Early concept evolution from app-based beta-testing (BetterBeta, Applay) to a physical gaming café, with each iteration refining user interaction ideas and visual style.
Visual Identity in Service of System Goals
While Toggle's visual identity began as a creative exploration, it evolved into a tool for reinforcing user experience themes like comfort, community, and playful professionalism.
The pixelated logotype wasn't just aesthetic; it aligned with retro game culture, supporting the idea of shared nostalgia across diverse players.
Warm earth tones and energetic reds created a balance between inviting spaces and energized play, designed to feel familiar yet exciting.
Every brand element was treated as a touchpoint: menus, signage, coffee cups, and merchandise all worked to make social play feel cohesive, both online and offline.
This branding exercise wasn't about visuals alone. It helped me understand how visual consistency can support emotional clarity, ensuring that users feel safe, welcome, and empowered to engage. The process deepened my ability to think across physical-digital systems and prototype experiences that feel lived in.
Mid-project critique session where Toggle's design system was evaluated and refined for cohesion and emotional resonance.
While speculative, Toggle helped me:
Think in product ecosystems, not just interfaces.
Embrace experimental workflows, prioritizing iteration over perfection.
Recognize the need for inclusive systems beyond aesthetics, prompting critical reflection on future accessibility integration.
“Toggle wasn't just about gaming. It was about reminding people they belong — in every pixel, every gesture, every shared laugh.”
If I returned to Toggle today, I'd integrate inclusive design principles more deliberately. The physical space and brand would extend to accommodate diverse physical and cognitive needs, from adaptive playstations to accessible café layouts. I'd explore partnerships with inclusive gaming initiatives, ensuring Toggle serves both fun and equity.