Graphic Design – Visual Communication Design

INSTITUTION

Arizona State University (ASU)

CLASS

Platinum Class (2025 – 2026)

STUDENT TEAM

ACADEMIC GUIDANCE

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Mission to Psyche is a strategy card game developed as a graphic design capstone project at Arizona State University, inspired by NASA’s real Psyche mission — a deep space exploration effort led by ASU and JPL to study the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche.

The game translates complex aerospace science into an accessible, competitive card experience for ages 8 and up. Players manage two resources — Solar energy and Xenon fuel — across four mission phases: Launch, Mars Flyby, Cruise, and In-Orbit. Each phase introduces unique mechanics, disruptions, and strategic decisions grounded in real mission science.

Designed as an educational exhibit deliverable, Mission to Psyche bridges the gap between scientific discovery and public engagement — making deep space exploration something anyone can hold, play, and feel.

 

 

This work was created in partial fulfillment of the Arizona State University Capstone Course “GRA 462.” The work is a result of the Psyche Student Collaborations component of NASA’s Psyche Mission (https://psyche.ssl.berkeley.edu). “Psyche: A Journey to a Metal World” [Contract number NNM16AA09C] is part of the NASA Discovery Program mission to solar system targets. Trade names and trademarks of ASU and NASA are used in this work for identification only. Their usage does not constitute an official endorsement, either expressed or implied, by Arizona State University or National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of ASU or NASA.