Students of the Faculty of Architecture at the Silesian University of Technology are proving that passion for the region, creativity and modern design can win worldwide recognition. Their project - "GZM Metropolis Game " - received a silver award in the prestigious Design Educates Awards 2025 competition in the Product Design category. This is one of the most important international awards promoting projects that teach, inspire and change societies. The game with quizzes, augmented reality and 3D models charmed the jury of world-class architects and designers, including Prof. Toyo Ito-laureate of the Pritzker Prize. The final gala of the competition will be held this September.
"Game of Metropolis" test.
© Urbanmodel
We have previously described this initiative in the article: "Game in the metropolis" - education through play in the heart of the Upper Silesian and Zagłębie metropolis. Since then, the project has not only grown, but also won more awards, including the Grand Prize in the Quality and Innovation category at the jubilee Gliwice Construction Fair.
a game that combines education with fun
"GZM Metropolis Game" is an interactive educational game for audiences of all ages. It combines cards, board elements and puzzles with a map of the metropolis, enriching the gameplay with quizzes, augmented reality and 3D models. The cards depict the region's landmarks, such as the Gliwice Radio Station, the Spodek and the Silesian Planetarium, along with urban planning data and QR codes for digital models. The pawns and board were designed as registered utility and industrial designs, and the center of the board is a real map of connections in the GZM.
According to Prof. Tomasz Bradecki, the originator of the project: In 2024, the cards themselves were created in a broader team as part of a class taught at the Faculty of Architecture at Silesian University of Technology under my direction. At that time, a friendly visiting professor from the University of Bologna, Lamberto Amistadi - asked when we would make an educational game at the academic level similar to such a popular game as Monopoly, which everyone plays. At the time, no one thought it could be done, so that the game would include elements of GIS-based knowledge and 3D printing and at the same time win an international award. I am proud of the entire team of the Urbanmodel research circle. The entire game, along with the pawn prints, quizzes and game boards, is a collective work in which we share experiences and develop.
playing cards
© Urbanmodel
team and creation process
Behind the project is a team of male and female students from the URBANMODEL research club: Blazej Mól, Paulina Siudyka, Igor Gdula, Justyna Nowak, Izabela Mularczyk, Magda Sikora, Oskar Rosikoń, Amelia Galas, Paulina Miszczak, Malgorzata Wasik, Katarzyna Kotarska, Katarzyna Wąsińska, Karolina Dębczak, Magdalena Fijał, Aleksandra Barańska, Michał Zając, Wiktoria Sobol and Wiktoria Wiendlocha, under the supervision of prof. Bradecki. The creators of the cards include Dominika Batko, Kornelia Bobek, Tymoteusz Golesny and Patrycja Haupt.
The project was developed within the framework of the "Metropolitan Science Support Fund" program , which made it possible to conduct a series of 10 workshops in high schools in the Silesian province.
As Paulina Siudyka explains: The workshops were held in high schools in the Silesian province and consisted of a short lecture, familiarization of the participants with the GZM Metropolis Game cards and group games of the Metropolis board game. Through a prepared questionnaire, we collected feedback on the games from students, which allowed us to improve the gameplay and readability of the instructions. Participants, on the other hand, had the opportunity to get acquainted with the GZM Metropolis presented through cards, pawns or 3D models, as well as test their knowledge of the region in our original quiz.
Amelia Galas added: The game was created to tell the story of the Metropolis - its history, culture, unique places and dynamic development - in an engaging way. By combining entertainment with education, it becomes a tool that inspires both residents and people from outside the region to learn about the MHM in a new, interactive way. For us, winning the Design Educates Awards global competition is not only a confirmation of the quality and innovation of our project, but also a chance to tell the story of the GZM Metropolis beyond Poland's borders. We are glad that we can take our story to the world and show that the Metropolis is a place with openness to global trends.
elements of the game
© Urbanmodel
more than a game - promoting the region's identity
Unlike classic Monopoly games, the goal is not to dominate your rival, but to gain knowledge about the region. Each player finishes the game as a winner, learning about the history, urban planning and culture of the Upper Silesia-Zagłębi Metropolis. The game mechanics allow for different levels of difficulty, and the quizzes are constantly updated online.
The URBANMODEL team actively promotes the project in social media, posting interesting facts about the region, quizzes and photos of objects related to the game cards. As a result, the Game has become not only a product, but also an educational and promotional tool that builds awareness about the region in a modern, engaging way.
