iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

I may be trying to build an escape room right now, but I still designed a new card game today themed after crochet. I knew my newest hobby would make it into a game eventually! Working title: Granny Squares

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Is it possible to build an escape room in 10 days? I’m going to try! I’ve spent the last few months gathering supplies and planning the design, and my goal is to have everything built by the end of the month. (Maybe it will happen, maybe not, but let’s try anyway!)

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

The end of a busy four days in Toronto! It was great to spend time with escape room friends and board game friends. Can’t wait to do it again!

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Ready for @breakoutcon.bsky.social to start today! With a lovely view of Toronto from my hotel room

Trees fill the bottom of the frame as the buildings of Toronto’s skyline rise above into a slightly cloudy blue sky. Looking north into the city, one of the structures visible is the curved towers of city hall.

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Does anyone else spend the night before a convention frantically assembling prototypes?

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

The Cryptex Hint has officially launched!

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Spending the day working on some escape room graphics and remembering why I’m not a graphic designer 😅

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Only a few days left until Cryptex Hunt time! A warm up puzzle is currently available on the hunt site if you’re impatient 😄

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

Finished my first crochet cardigan! Still need to block it but love how it came out. Lessons were learned and I have a list of things to improve for next time. But I’ve already started on the next sweater!

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Congratulations to all the @cardboardedison.com award finalists! Wanderlore didn’t make it through but the feedback will help me rework my pitch so that the gameplay is more clear in the future

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Second row seats at the Lion King! So close I had to zoom out to get the picture 🦁

The programme for the Lion King musical, yellow with a stylized lion head, held in front of a decorated curtain across a theatre stage - waiting for the show to begin

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

I’ve been doing some thinking on my board game design style recently. I design a lot of co-ops, which are typically focused on teamwork - not difficult to win but a clever puzzle for players to work together to solve.

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

The last few days have been all Cryptex Hunt all the time as we gear up for the hunt start in a couple weeks. If you’ve ever been curious about puzzle hunts, this is a great one to be your first! Register a team at www.Cryptexhunt.com

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Cant wait to see everyone at Breakout Con!

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Shopping for used books as props in an escape room tomorrow. What books would a supervillain have on his shelves?

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Tried to play some new board games yesterday. You know you’re exhausted/burnt out when you open the box, take a look at all the components you have to punch out and just give up lol. I am definitely appreciating clean, streamlined design recently.

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

How do you store your brainstorming notes for game ideas?? I need to get more organized. After checking all my folders and cloud files, I found the game in the notes on my phone 🙄

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Conundrum is back on the market (again). If anyone knows of a publisher interested in a family-friendly, card only escape room game, please let me know!

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Finished up a pitch video and submitted Wanderlore to the Cardboard Edison award. This game has so much potential and I can’t wait for more people to see it!

Title card that reads: Wanderlore, a cooperative adventure of magic and friendship. There is a picture of a game board with scallop shaped location tiles and a numbered track. Icons indicate that the game plays 2 to 4 players, ages 8+, and game length is 45 minutes.

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Excellent article! I’ve used many of these same tips in designing games for brands, educational purposes, films, etc. Very different world from hobby.

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Spent 4+ hours today working on a puzzle for an upcoming puzzle hunt. Positive side: the mechanics are all worked out!! Negative: Now I have soooo much writing and graphic design to do to finish it

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

Best practice is to not invest too much time or money into your board game prototypes. But sometimes you’re in a crafty mood and generic tokens just won’t cut it

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Shannon McDowell @shannonmcdowell.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

It’s official! I will be building out my own mini escape room for (at least one) convention next year. Wish me luck!

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