We wanted the game to be fun and engaging, but also highly effective and impactful, providing young people with genuine insights and learning opportunities.
To achieve this, we conducted a quantitative survey of over 2,000 young people from across England, alongside in-depth qualitative research to better understand their needs and identify what would be most valuable to them.
From the very first survey, it became clear that ‘finance’ was the topic young people felt most strongly about. We collaborated with subject matter experts in youth finance to identify critical skills gaps and determine which knowledge would best equip them for their daily lives.
Using these insights, we partnered with a learning designer to create our own framework of financial learning outcomes. We also integrated the Skills Builder Framework—a fantastic tool specifically designed to help young people understand and reflect on broader life skills. This framework guided the planning of content around key skills such as aiming high, problem-solving, and staying positive. Remarkably, no one had ever used this tool to create a game before.
With this solid foundation in learning design, we began crafting early game concepts, exploring gameplay mechanics and narratives that could incorporate these learning outcomes. We then shared these ideas with young people to gather their feedback and ensure the game aligned with their preferences.