Winner: Dinh Huy
Graphite Pencil
2022

The first stage of my design process was dedicated to understanding the challenge and defining the opportunity space. I began by researching the environmental context, exploring how digital experiences could support climate awareness and behavioural change.
This phase involved analysing user needs, reviewing existing solutions, and identifying gaps where a game like Quack could make a meaningful impact. My goal was to build a strong foundation of insight before moving into ideation and development.
Ustwo & Play4thePlanet
New Blood Awards 2022
Dinh Huy
In the 2nd stage of my design process "Observation". I focused on understanding the real-world impact of climate change in UK. I explored local environmental issues through field visits, categorised visible problems such as air pollution, urban heat, and waste accumulation, and engaged in conversations with residents to learn how these challenges affect their daily lives.
This empathetic research helped me to gain a deep understanding of user problems to come up with proper solutions for users.
Dense traffic and reliance on fossil-fuel transport in cities contribute significantly to CO₂ levels and poor air quality
Inconsistent recycling practices and over-reliance on landfill sites increase methane emissions and environmental degradation
While climate change is widely acknowledged, many individuals feel disconnected from its causes and unsure how to act effectively

global average CO₂ increases 50% since pre-industrial times
The world emits around 34.73 billion tons coming from CO₂
In the 2nd stage of the Quack, I focused on researching the environmental impact of CO₂ emissions. I explored a wide range of sources to understand where CO₂ comes from, how it's distributed across sectors, and its role in accelerating climate change.
By analysing emission proportions and identifying major contributors, such as transport, energy, and waste, I define clearly the problem I am going to solve.
• Electricity & heat production – 29.7%
• Transportation – 13.7%
• Manufacturing & construction – 12.7%

In the ideation stage of the Quack project, I transitioned from research to creative exploration, using insights from environmental studies and user observations to generate potential solutions.
I began by brainstorming a wide range of concepts such as Quack, Dino Rush, and Build Green Spaces... each aimed at engaging users with climate change in an interactive and meaningful way.
To refine these ideas, I organised and facilitated four ideation workshops, where I presented my concepts to professors and creative industry leaders.
Their input helped shape the direction of the project, and by the end of the second workshop, Quack emerged as the chosen concept: a mobile game that educates users about climate change through interactive play.
Key features of Quack include:
• Explore a virtual map of the user’s city.
• Collect flower seeds by participating in environmental activities or simply walking.
• Germinate and nurture seeds into plants.
• Learn how each flower helps mitigate CO₂.
• Share progress with friends or on social media.
01
Judge 1
"Quack is a brilliant idea to protect our environment. Together with Lovely Concept, fantastic gameplay, and real-world linking... Quack is promised to create significant impacts on our society and nature."
02
Judge 2
"The designer has expressed his wonderful & brilliant design skills such as colour harmony, drawing, painting... More importantly, his innovation is literally out of the box."

Quack was proudly awarded a Graphite Pencil (Silver Win) at the D&AD New Blood Awards 2022, recognising its creative excellence and impact in tackling climate change through game design.

Quack is a mobile game aimed at tackling carbon emissions and rising CO2 levels across the UK. Its aim is to provide a fun and educational platform where players can learn about emission levels, and work together with other players to purify and clean their local area. Starting on a virtual level will hopefully take real-world effect and encourage players to be more conscious of the environment, whilst picking up new habits from the game, and implementing them into the real world, hence making for a more clean and healthy environment.
The original idea of Quack comes from observations of the environment and scientific research on Climate Change, especially the Carbon Dioxide Map of The UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI). One of the biggest problems we are facing nowadays is Carbon Dioxide emitting from vehicles and manufacturers and how it is negatively affecting the environment. This is one of the central causes of Global Warming that leads to horrible Climate Change over the world. Nevertheless, plants are nature’s treasure that helps us to mitigate air pollution and tackle Global Warming efficiently. According to research, a mature tree absorbs carbon dioxide at a rate of 48 pounds per year. In one year, an acre of forest can absorb twice the CO2 produced by the average car's annual mileage.
The gameplay of Quack focuses on tackling Climate Change by growing plants in the virtual world. In Quack’s World, the responsibility of players is to collect coins by completing environmental protection tasks. With collected coins, players can exchange plants from Quack’s shop. In the game, plants take an important role in purifying and cleaning players' local area by absorbing a certain Carbon Dioxide day by day. When a new level is achieved, players will get rewards correspondingly.
To catalyze positive changes in the real world, Quack is improvising many ways to educate people about the real environment surrounding them.
In-game, players get a reward for their positive environmental behaviour such as “Pick up litter”, and “1000 steps challenge”... These tasks are aiming to educate players and gradually build good habits as well. Furthermore, by incorporating the Carbon Dioxide Map from NAEI, players can have a big picture of the environmental problems happening in their local areas.
In reality, Quack is considered a bridge between the virtual and real worlds. With every good behaviour in the real world, players will receive in-game incentives.
In detail, Quack proposes some eco-friendly activities, such as “using biodegradable packaging instead of plastic”, and “participating in real eco-protection activities to get in-game rewards”.
All activities are listed in the Quack Event section, along with detailed instructions so that players may quickly find them and register.
To engage players, Quack particularly focuses on the gaming experience, simulating a wonderful world where players can immerse themselves in nature. Through the game, players not only discover beautiful and precious plants but also obtain scientific knowledge about them as well. Some examples of the information include, where it is commonly found, life span, the size, and other interesting facts. Furthermore, players can meet others in the virtual world, have a conversation, or showcase their favourite things.
In conclusion, Quack is not only an educational game but also a tool to catalyze positive change for people, society, and nature. Quack promises to have a good impact on nature through in-game education, creating awareness, and taking realistic actions to conserve the real environment in players' local areas.
Let’s give a hand to tackling Climate Change!
Quack is a mobile game designed to raise awareness and drive action against carbon emissions across the UK. By blending education with gameplay, it encourages players to complete eco-friendly tasks—like picking up litter or walking challenges—to earn rewards and grow virtual plants that absorb CO₂. Inspired by scientific data from the UK’s National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, Quack mirrors real-world environmental issues and offers players a visual map of local pollution levels. Through immersive experiences, social interaction, and real-world incentives, Quack bridges the gap between virtual play and environmental impact, helping users build sustainable habits and contribute to a cleaner future.


Let’s green Our World, tackle Climate Change!