Research project

Civic IMAGInation PraCtices (CivicMAGIC): towards a methodology to facilitate collective imagination for transformative mobility and resilient futures

Research groups:
Lead researchers:

Dr Vanissa Wanick,

Dr Richard Gomer
Other researchers:

Dr Joseph Owen,

Mrs Kristina Risley
Status:

Not active

Project overview

Game activities such as ideation, imagination, negotiation and world-building can be applied to help people to discuss, deliberate and tackle real-life social and policy challenges. This project explores these practices in popular games like Dungeons & Dragons (‘DnD’) to identify participatory actions that can lead to a more resilient and sustainable society.

Staff

Lead researchers

Dr Vanissa Wanick FHEA

Senior Lecturer in Interaction Design

Research interests

Games for Social Impact and Wellbeing – designing and studying games that address societal challenges, foster change, and support collective futures.
Human Behaviour and Interaction Design – investigating rituals, gestures, mental models, and social and cultural values in digital and physical interfaces.
Participatory and Co-Design Methods – developing inclusive design practices that foreground collaboration, diversity, and underrepresented voices.

Connect with Vanissa

Email: vwv1n12@ecs.soton.ac.uk