Divorce Card Game : Family Justice Courts

Project Production: Client Project during Internship at APT 811 (2025)

Skillsets / Softwares used: ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR | ADOBE PHOTOSHOP

Creative Disciplines: DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION | PACKAGING | GAME DESIGN | EDUCATIONAL DESIGN | VISUAL COMMUNICATION

Project Summary

"In My Court" is a card game designed for children to help them understand divorce proceedings and the roles within the Family Justice Courts. Developed during my internship at APT 811, the project aimed to simplify complex legal concepts into an engaging and accessible format for young audiences. Through illustrated characters, interactive gameplay, and clear visual cues, the game encourages children going through such hard times, to learn about the court process while also recognising and expressing their emotions.

Concept and Approach

Divorce proceedings can be confusing and emotionally overwhelming for children. The concept behind In My Court was to transform this difficult subject into a playful and supportive learning experience. By using bright illustrations, relatable characters, and simple mechanics such as pairing cards, the game introduces children to key figures in the court system, such as judges and social workers, while also addressing common myths, facts, and emotions surrounding family separation.

Development Process

Working collaboratively with my team, we focused on designing a card system that was child-friendly and easy to understand. The development process included:

Designing illustrated characters representing different roles within the court system
Creating a visual language that felt friendly, approachable, and suitable for children
Designing card layouts, icons, and packaging to ensure clarity and engagement

Reflection

This project deepened my understanding of how design can support sensitive social topics. It highlighted the importance of empathy in design, especially when creating for young audiences navigating difficult situations.

Question and Answer cards introduce different roles and situations within the Family Justice Courts through a simple question and answer format. Question cards provide clues about a character or situation, prompting players to think about who the person might be, while the corresponding answer cards reveal the role; such as a Judge, Mediator, or Custody Evaluator, and explain their responsibilities in clear, child-friendly language. This pairing helps children better understand the people involved in the court process in an engaging and interactive way. Emotion cards focus on helping children recognise and express their feelings during difficult situations such as family separation. Each card represents a different emotion; such as anger, sadness, or anxiety, and offers simple guidance on understanding and coping with those feelings.

Myth and Fact cards help children distinguish between common misconceptions and realities about divorce and court proceedings. Players are presented with statements and encouraged to decide whether they are a myth or a fact. Once revealed, the cards provide clear, child-friendly explanations to correct misunderstandings and offer reassurance. This helps children build a more accurate understanding of the process while addressing concerns and uncertainties they may have.