MIT Student Designs Card Game to Build Campus Community
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A mechanical engineering student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology named Kayode Dada has designed an innovative card game called Campus Trade to build community among the 1,100 freshmen during orientation. Growing up in Kentucky, Dada loved physical board games like Monopoly and Settlers of Catan, even creating over 20 board games himself using art supplies. Initially hesitant to apply to MIT because he believed he lacked proper technical credentials, Dada was inspired by an admissions blog post from a female student who knew nothing about programming before enrollment. His redesigned card game incorporates campus illustrations and ice-breaker questions, encouraging students to engage in meaningful conversations rather than simply trading cards quickly.
Key Points
- MIT fourth-year student Kayode Dada, majoring in mechanical engineering, designed Campus Trade card game for 1,100 freshmen during orientation last year
- Students were divided into 12 color groups and needed to collect cards of all colors to win, but many just traded quickly without conversing
- Dada collaborated with MIT Media Lab researchers for a full year to redesign the game with larger tarot-sized cards and multiple winning strategies
- He serves as an orientation leader, admissions blog writer, and campus radio DJ while actively encouraging students who doubt themselves
- Dada plans to pursue game design professionally after graduation and may consider starting his own company
Why It Matters
In an age dominated by artificial intelligence, Dada's story reminds us that genuine human connection remains irreplaceable. His success in transforming a simple card exchange into a tool for meaningful dialogue demonstrates that the ability to bring people together is a skill that transcends technological advancement . For universities and communities worldwide, his approach offers a replicable model for building authentic bonds among diverse groups of people.
In an age dominated by artificial intelligence, Dada's story reminds us that genuine human connection remains irreplaceable. His success in transforming a simple card exchange into a tool for meaningful dialogue demonstrates that the ability to bring people together is a skill that transcends technological advancement . For universities and communities worldwide, his approach offers a replicable model for building authentic bonds among diverse groups of people.