Co-Design Process

Collaborative design with experts and youth to create an authentic humanitarian negotiation training

Expert Workshops

Co-designing a ceasefire negotiation game with experts

In 2025 we convened online workshops with practitioners, researchers and educators with expertise in ceasefires, International Humanitarian Law, gender and emotions. Their insights shaped the game’s foundations and built an authentic, nuanced representation of humanitarian negotiation.

Expert Workshop 1

Foundations of the game world

This session explored what the game should focus on and how we frame “success” in ceasefire negotiations, while keeping relational, gendered and legal-political dynamics visible.

Outcomes and Discussions

What aspect of ceasefire negotiations should the game focus on
What “success” looks like for different actors
Relational and gender dynamics in frontline negotiations
The role of law and politics in shaping outcomes

Expert Workshop 2

Nuance in negotiation

This session refined the game’s central goal and explored how complexity, nuance and trust could be expressed through mechanics, choices and feedback.

Outcome and discussions

Clarifying the central goal of the game for players
Understanding the complexity of ceasefire definitions
The importance of nuance in choice design
The role of trust in negotiation systems

Expert Workshop Graphics Recordings

Youth Design Workshops

Youth Design Workshop 1

Learning mechanisms and game mechanics - exploring how young peace gamers understand learning, play, emotion and systems through co-design.

Session focus

Learning mechanisms & game mechanics

Youth Peace Gamers explored how learning outcomes, game systems and emotions can interact to create meaningful play experiences.

Outcomes and discussions

Familiarising with learning mechanisms and Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
Exploring core game mechanics and understanding simple game-play loops
Discussing the role of emotions in play and decision-making
Developing initial game concepts around ceasefire scenarios

Youth Design Workshop 1 Photos

Youth Design Workshops

Youth Design Workshop 2

The CEASEFIRE! Universe - a sprint-based session to open up possibilities, then refine the world, characters and emotional systems of the prototype.

Workshop 2

Divergent & convergent thinking focus

This session used a mix of rapid idea generation and careful refinement to shape the core components of the prototype, from the world and characters through to how emotions are expressed on screen.

Outcomes and discussions

World design and the overall feel of the game space
Character designs and their roles within the ceasefire narrative
Initial dialogue structures and emotional beats
Visual feedback systems to communicate emotions to players

Youth Design Workshop 2 – collaborative design session

Youth Design Workshop 2 Photos

Behind the Project

Meet the Team & Contributors

CEASEFIRE! is shaped by youth peace gamers, humanitarian experts, educators, artists and developers collaborating across disciplines. Learn more about the people who brought this project to life.

View Team & Contributors

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