Method of Action: design skills as games

What it is

Method of Action is a one-person project by designer Mark MacKay. It's a small collection of free games, each built to drill a single skill. KernType is about letter spacing. The Bézier Game teaches the pen tool you use in Illustrator, Figma and similar apps. The Boolean Game covers combining and cutting vector shapes. ShapeType trains your sense of letterforms, and Color is about building color harmonies.

There's also Method Draw, a simple vector editor that runs in the browser with no sign-up. Its source code is open on GitHub.

Why we picked it

A designer's eye comes from repetition, not from reading about it. These games turn the repetition into something you actually want to do: you nudge letters, anchor points or shapes and get feedback right away. In KernType, for instance, each word ends with your spacing shown next to a professional's, plus a score. Rounds are short, and after a dozen words in KernType you'll start noticing bad kerning on shop signs everywhere.

It's also clearly still cared for. MacKay keeps a public work log with entries from 2026, and the whole thing is free, supported by donations.

Where to start

• Start with KernType — it's the project's best-known game and a quick test of your eye.
• If you work with vectors, do The Bézier Game next; the payoff is immediate.
• Try The Boolean Game for a fast, clear lesson on union and subtract.
• Open Method Draw when you need a quick vector sketch without installing anything.

Who it's for

Design students and junior designers. Anyone who uses Figma or Illustrator and never quite made peace with the pen tool. People who set headlines for slides, posters or newsletters. And perfectionists in general — it's oddly calming.

Quick answers

Do I need to install anything? No, the games and the editor all run in the browser.

Is it free? Yes. Donations are welcome but nothing is paywalled.

Who makes it? Mark MacKay, a product designer, who documents the project in his work logs.