Expert Validation of an Empathic Design Thinking Framework: For Digital Serious Game Development

Abstract

The design and development of serious games is a multifaceted process that often lacks a comprehensive, usercentered
approach despite the availability of numerous design frameworks. The systematic review of current serious game
design frameworks reveals a focus on technical and instructional aspects. This paper introduces Empathic Design Thinking
Framework (EDTF), a novel framework tailored to support educational designers, researchers, developers, and practitioners
in creating digital serious games, that pretends to address this gap by integrating co-design and iterative user research
throughout the entire process, ensuring alignment with end-user needs. A key innovation is its focus on co-design and codevelopment,
where learners and instructors collaborate with designers and developers throughout the whole process. This
approach contrasts with traditional methods, where user research is often limited to specific phases after the initial game
concept is proposed. By integrating user research into every phase, from ideation and concept development to prototyping,
testing, and deployment, it ensures that the final product aligns closely with the needs and preferences of its target audience.
The EDTF was developed and refined through a design science research approach, incorporating literature review, concept
mapping, and theory development. It was further validated and iteratively revised by 18 experts and practitioners in the field
of serious games with focus on comprehensibility, feasibility, usability and limitations of the framework. Experts
acknowledge the framework’s elaborateness, but highlight its depth and practical value in structuring the game design
process, particularly for educational and training games. The step-by-step approach provides clarity, reduces uncertainty,
and supports both novice and experienced designers and developers. While few suggestions for streamlining were noted,
the framework’s emphasis on continuous iterative testing, systematic user-driven progression was praised for enhancing
project outcomes. In conclusion, the EDTF’s consistent focus on users needs and its ability to balance complexity with
practical utility make it a robust tool for creating impactful, efficient, useful, desirable well-structured serious games. This
study underscores the framework’s potential to address real-world design challenges and improve the usability and
effectiveness of serious games in educational and training contexts.