Poollution Revolution is an interactive educational game designed for children of the Kiwi Conservation Club (KCC) of New Zealand. The game tackles a serious environmental issue — pollution of New Zealand’s waterways from dairy effluent — by turning it into a physically active, humorous, and highly engaging experience.

In the game, participants take on one of two roles: Team Cows, who “poo and fart” in the river, and Eco-Warriors, who try to clean up after them using a deliberately awkward “poo-box.” With simple, adaptable props and rules, children of varying ages, abilities, and attention spans can participate fully, making the game both accessible and replicable. Over multiple rounds, additional elements such as farts and leaves introduce layers of complexity that reflect broader environmental challenges like methane emissions and habitat destruction.

The design intentionally balances fun and educational impact. The game’s cheeky, gross-but-playful tone draws children into the subject matter while provoking meaningful discussion about pollution, environmental stewardship, and the scale of challenges facing New Zealand’s waterways. By letting children experience the difficulty of keeping rivers clean firsthand, Poollution Revolution encourages creative thinking, problem-solving, and imaginative engagement with environmental issues.

This work was recognised with a Bronze Award in the Student Public Good category for the Best Design Awards, celebrating its ability to educate, engage, and inspire the next generation of Kiwis to care about their environment. Through role play, collaboration, and hands-on participation, the game transforms a serious ecological issue into a memorable, interactive learning experience.

Game design team: Lily Warring, Alex Warner, Farren Gunn, Amber Strain

Lecturers: Tanya Marriott, Chaz McManus

Best Design Award Bronze - Student Social Good, 2018.