https://jasonlivingston.space/qwugel daily 0.75 2018-08-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1534137017036-7G4D7JXZCS0GNGN0F04O/qwirkle-2.jpg Qwugel - The Problem with Qwirkle Qwirkle is a tile based matching game somewhat like a combination of Scrabble and Set. It's a great game that also happens to have some fundamental flaws with respect to accessibility. I (20/20 vision) needed to redo the room lighting to distinguish red and orange tiles, my girlfriend's grandmother needed to compare the blue and purple tiles as well, and a red-green colorblind friend just had to sit the whole game out. Clearly, a color-free graphic redesign would be universally appreciated. Photo credit gamesworld.com.au https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1534137017036-7G4D7JXZCS0GNGN0F04O/qwirkle-2.jpg Qwugel - The Problem with Qwirkle Qwirkle is a tile based matching game somewhat like a combination of Scrabble and Set. It's a great game that also happens to have some fundamental flaws with respect to accessibility. I (20/20 vision) needed to redo the room lighting to distinguish red and orange tiles, my girlfriend's grandmother needed to compare the blue and purple tiles as well, and a red-green colorblind friend just had to sit the whole game out. Clearly, a color-free graphic redesign would be universally appreciated. Photo credit gamesworld.com.au https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533836442407-3SOQGW4XQHKBPP2O97R4/IMG_3702.JPG Qwugel - Shapes and symbols The original game uses 6 shapes and 6 colors. Creating a monochromatic redesign meant that these 2 pieces of information needed to be communicated some other way. 6 new outline shapes surround 6 symbols and, to make it fun and easily recognizable, pseudo-occultist symbology was used. The original shapes (with the exception of square and circle) have no universal names, which makes it harder for players to discuss them during play, while symbols like dagger, mushroom, and skull have obvious names. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533836631376-D9BOTZ62GQQAU6AJ7X6H/Screenshot_8_9_18__1_43_PM.png Qwugel - Prototyping the shapes To determine the 6 new outline shapes, paper tiles were printed and cut out and handed to prospective players to sort into piles. Here is an example of 8 prospective designs. It quickly became clear that while a 2, 3, or 4 pointed shape could be easily recognized as distinct, the 5, 6, and 7 pointed designs took much longer to sort despite the extra flourishes added to make them unique. Of these 8 shapes, 4 designs made it to the final with just minimal tweaks and a simple large circle and “none” were added to simplify the look further. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533838266433-NZKIHWJPBKPFVM6X5RFR/Screenshot_8_9_18__2_10_PM.png Qwugel - Final tile designs The final tiles were cut and etched on a laser cutter out of black acrylic. The depth of etch was chosen to produce a clear image as well as a distinct tactile experience for each tile. The tiles were scuffed to a matte slate-like finish using medium grit scouring pads. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533839591323-DN5ZAXX8CYJ2RD9EVVQU/IMG_3706.JPG Qwugel - Tile racks The original Qwirkle also has tiles with a satisfying weight and thickness, but they are just too thin to balance on their edges without falling over repeatedly during play. I designed 4 laser cut tile racks that pack into a custom box along with the 108 tiles, scoring notebook, and pen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1534190145565-98ZAJYQPIT389EEV05NG/IMG_8055.jpg Qwugel - Glowing in the dark A glow-in-the-dark version was made to further test playability in low to no light environments. After a few minutes under an UV lamp to charge, the runes will glow long enough to finish a full game or summon an elder god, whichever comes first. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533836448205-KSH878FOMWGJ66GTMGR5/IMG_3709.JPG Qwugel - Box design The box was made from reclaimed cedar and up-cycled scrap plastic. The sliding lid is magnetically held in place for travel. https://jasonlivingston.space/swatchrix daily 0.75 2018-08-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1534137410654-QHVF860NGSX79HX2J4FD/spectrix11.jpg Swatchrix - The Problem with Spectrix Spectrix is a classic card game (rummy variant) "designed for color lovers of all ages." Unfortunately, the colors frustrated both the professional "color lovers" (due to the inconsistent printing and unclear order of the spectrum) and the colorblind players (who again just had to sit this game out). A redesign of this game needed to improve the beautiful color spectrum promise of Spectrix while allowing for full participation from all players even if they love colors in a deuteranopic way. Photo credit Funnybone Toys® https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1534137410654-QHVF860NGSX79HX2J4FD/spectrix11.jpg Swatchrix - The Problem with Spectrix Spectrix is a classic card game (rummy variant) "designed for color lovers of all ages." Unfortunately, the colors frustrated both the professional "color lovers" (due to the inconsistent printing and unclear order of the spectrum) and the colorblind players (who again just had to sit this game out). A redesign of this game needed to improve the beautiful color spectrum promise of Spectrix while allowing for full participation from all players even if they love colors in a deuteranopic way. Photo credit Funnybone Toys® https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533920676908-R3R9WFUBQNZH8CO36DPK/IMG_3740.JPG Swatchrix - The Secret is Swatches Swatchrix solves all of the problems of the Spectrix cards by repurposing actual paint swatches*. Now the printing quality is much better and more consistent, the spectrum has more gradual transitions between colors, and most importantly, all the colors have names and numbers associated with them. *Support your local communally owned hardware store, and when you want a bunch of free paint swatches, they’ll give them to you! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533920620362-3OCSWBDVLU6ADI0YQ5BQ/IMG_3740.JPG Swatchrix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533920730964-VIB1KCBRMXX2ZROAGAUD/IMG_3734.JPG Swatchrix - Set 1: The Barrel Using large square paint swatches also allows you to double the number of cards by cutting the swatches into two rectangles. This leaves you with a set of cards with numbers and a set of cards with names. Both sets got a spectrum reference tile, but for this set with numbers I also laser etched a 12 sided token showing all of the numbers in order (since the spacing between the numbers chosen is inconsistent). The 12 sided barrel itself is made from reclaimed cedar and holds the cards, tile, and token. The acrylic lid locks against the inner shape of the barrel with a satisfying 15° turn. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533920747593-0DRQLIOTIRB498LNOS01/IMG_3726.JPG Swatchrix - Set 2: The Box The second set has cards with the paint swatch color names visible, so the lid of the box slides out and can be used as a second reference plaque. The colors are listed in order in a repeating list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533920782217-FBWFVEPI1NKM9BUO2Z6X/IMG_3729.JPG Swatchrix - The Full Spectrum Showing the 12 colors aligning with their corresponding numbers. https://jasonlivingston.space/sketchbook daily 0.75 2018-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533917302516-60EHDHJNO5UYZ00GQ10T/2011-10-29_22-25-14_74.jpg Sketchbook Sculpture of the Quechua cosmovision. Cusco, Peru. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533917302516-60EHDHJNO5UYZ00GQ10T/2011-10-29_22-25-14_74.jpg Sketchbook Sculpture of the Quechua cosmovision. Cusco, Peru. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533784445915-FT84LL0SZDTI7D9BCRKH/IMG_2968.jpg Sketchbook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533784446440-5LFPTH3ZP7OSS4EEGH2Y/IMG_2970.jpg Sketchbook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533784380671-JEBQVKQSJBFUW1KPL154/2011-10-29_22-25-14_74.jpg Sketchbook Sculpture of the Quechua cosmovision. Cusco, Peru. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533784425394-GOVYUMX0Q9NWN0UQ68LB/IMG_6394.jpg Sketchbook Jason and Bethany visit the Botero museum in Bogota, Colombia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533784425976-X7HD5HDBS1Y6XBGIBEI3/IMG_6688.jpg Sketchbook Drawing the drawing hand with a modified post-stitches grip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533784426437-0V96N3YRLZELOC5W6714/IMG_6690.jpg Sketchbook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533784512904-I812LJ05O4J0L05PCML9/IMG_7980.jpg Sketchbook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533784606225-7SURVTQ8VGW6Y8DIGYMG/IMG_7981.jpg Sketchbook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533784445982-ZTGDV6IRM4GO8Q7Q073I/IMG_2969.JPG Sketchbook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533784841758-LO1UX4K4VJTWA481U8YR/IMG_2319.jpg Sketchbook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533784700167-FSXVX31VA6HCMTMS4PF4/IMG_2318.jpg Sketchbook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533784702098-XFB6K19V6X2AVEYL13O7/IMG_2457.jpg Sketchbook Learning all the edible wild berries of eastern North America by carefully drawing their identifying features https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533784702184-NO45M15QW42XM1Q8OIMU/IMG_2458.jpg Sketchbook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533830466289-ZPL6AMDHN5P1SA62EMRF/IMG_3694.JPG Sketchbook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533785477319-68M6NG1ZOJUMQKEDK2M9/IMG_3068.jpg Sketchbook https://jasonlivingston.space/projects daily 1.0 2018-08-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533831407412-IJMJQZM4GMMYMACUHJWB/IMG_3734.JPG Projects https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533835674748-CAPBZP9NTBRUAHNWUAWP/IMG_3702.JPG Projects https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533913034537-KM731YSATPYMASVYY8DS/IMG_3763.JPG Projects https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533913176025-OGFN3RHJ77OFH7Q5E5SP/17097640_689698531209133_8571809145748905654_o.jpg Projects https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1534363323992-LNCZB861GUZGPSU4MM3I/IMG_3823.jpg Projects https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1534705872740-YY3RLKFDHF6SHW6FI0OR/IMG_2449.jpg Projects https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1534374612752-6XCT2VKN6F8GN668UVFJ/set-up-laptop-form2-form-wash-form-cure.jpg Projects - Formlabs ecosystem May 2017 Form 2, Form Wash, and Form Cure (and Caitlin Reyda, Formlabs engineer) Watch a recent review of the Form Wash and Form Cure from Adam Savage’s Tested here https://jasonlivingston.space/about daily 0.75 2022-11-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1533763411083-LFNQOWWQRGC511E7TA4V/IMG_5234.PNG Nutshell Jason was also briefly the guardian of a baby squirrel named Jack. He was the best. https://jasonlivingston.space/resume-2018 daily 0.75 2018-08-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1534183715602-Y8XAJ7DS2EMRE3TSNOKV/J-L-logo-space2.png Copy of Resume 2018 https://jasonlivingston.space/video-cameos daily 0.75 2018-08-09 https://jasonlivingston.space/contact daily 0.75 2018-08-15 https://jasonlivingston.space/resume daily 0.75 2022-11-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6b5bb775f9eedf35c6d33d/1534183715602-Y8XAJ7DS2EMRE3TSNOKV/J-L-logo-space2.png Resume https://jasonlivingston.space/read-me-forte daily 0.75 2025-05-12