BOM was commissioned by the ODI to design and produce a game that would make open civic data playful and accessible to the public. The result was Mood Pinball — a stylised pinball machine and mobile app co-designed with neurodivergent participants to explore how open data can support wellbeing in urban spaces.
What We Did
– The project centred community-led design and technical creativity. We:
– Led workshops with a focus group of neurodivergent people with hidden disabilities to shape the concept
– Developed a physical, tour-ready pinball machine based on open data from Coventry City Centre
– Created a mobile app version of the game to extend reach and accessibility
– Commissioned and collaborated with creative practitioners including Edie Jo Murray, Harmeet Chagger-Khan, and BOM’s Ben Neal
– Embedded a synthesised dataset within the game logic, visualising how real-world civic data could be used to inform individual choices
In the game, players navigate a city-themed playfield, avoiding overwhelming areas and seeking calm spaces. A metaphor for sensory experience and public data engagement.
Impact
Mood Pinball launched at the ODI Summit 2019, where it was famously played by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web. The game has since toured nationally, including exhibitions at the V&A Museum, Somerset House, Nottingham Festival of Science & Curiosity, and BOM.
ClientOpen Data Institute (ODI)ServicesProducing, Commissioning, Participatory Design
