Paws school dog trumps – a playful, educational card game
A playful, educational card game designed to celebrate therapy dogs while teaching students about canine traits and data comparison.
The Brief
Following the success of previous educational resources for PAWS Therapy Dog Training, the client wanted to create a fun, interactive “Top Trumps” style card game. The goal was to showcase their roster of “School Dogs” – certified therapy dogs that work in educational settings – and provide a tool that encourages to engage with the dogs’ unique personalities and statistics in a classroom or therapy environment.
The Concept
The project focused on “Gamified Learning.” By using a familiar “Trumps” mechanic, the cards allow players to compare different therapy dogs based on specific attributes. This helps build rapport between students and the animals they interact with, while also subtly practicing numeracy and comparison skills.
The Design
The design needed to be vibrant, durable, and consistent with the PAWS brand identity. Each card features:
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High-Quality Photography: Each dog is pictured in a professional, friendly portrait to make them easily recognisable to the students.
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Key Statistics: Five categories were chosen to represent the dogs: Calmness, Cuteness, Intelligence, Tricks, and Supported.
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Biographical Data: A short bio for each dog, including their breed and “superpower,” adds a storytelling element to the gameplay.
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Colour-Coded Borders: Navy and yellow accents provide a professional yet approachable aesthetic that mirrors the PAWS corporate styling.
Production and Print
Because these cards are intended for frequent use, durability was a primary concern.
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Material: High-quality, recycled plastic-coated card stock to resist wear, tear, and sticky fingers.
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Packaging: A bespoke, heavy-duty tuck box was designed to keep the deck secure and portable for therapy dog handlers.
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Finish: A smooth finish to ensure the cards are easy to shuffle and deal for small hands.
The Result
They serve as an excellent “ice-breaker” for who may be nervous around animals, allowing them to learn a dog’s “stats” and personality before meeting them in person. The project successfully bridges the gap between professional therapy services and engaging resources.
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Client: PAWS Therapy Dog Training
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Deliverables: Custom Deck of 30+ Cards, Branded Packaging
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Target Audience: Students, therapy dog handlers, and educators.
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Themes: Animal Welfare, Numeracy, Emotional Regulation.
Top 3 Achievements
- Premium Material Selection – We utilised high-spec, recycled plastic-coated card stock with rounded corners to ensure the deck withstands the heavy-duty demands of a classroom environment.
- Tactile Engagement – The choice of a smooth, professional finish creates a high-quality “feel” that mirrors the credibility of the PAWS therapy dog training program
- Bespoke Functional Packaging – We produced a custom-fitted, durable tuck box designed specifically for handlers
