Raj
For senior capstone, “Raj” combines history, design, and play in a satirical reimagining of the popular board game, Monopoly. In this iteration, instead of playing as a capitalist purchasing real estate, the player is acting as a subject of the British Raj during the colonial era of India. The spaces on the board that would represent streets in Monopoly now represent stolen artifacts significant to Indian culture. As spaces are claimed one by one, the player finds themselves slowly replacing the intricate Indian design identity of the game board with the more industrial British design of the cards and pieces.
The Board
Display
“Raj” was displayed at the Epiphany Center for the Arts in Chicago during June of 2022. The set consisted of 3D printed player pieces, a printed and foldable game board, play money, game cards, and 3D printed housing pieces. The design of the board and branding is inspired by the deep, royal colors and floral patterns that are found in many Indian arts and fabrics. Raj was a fully immersive display, meaning people at the venue could play the game to completion.