Learning innovation through playing: the case of the serious game Rêves de vélo (Bicycle Dreams)

After several years of development at the CNAM (Conservatoire national des arts et métiers), the serious game Rêves de vélo (Bicycle Dreams) was launched in May 2025 on the FUN (France Université Numérique) platform. It takes place at the turn of the 1860s, during the emergence of the velocipede, the precursor to the modern bicycle – France was the pioneer in this field at the time. Through an interactive comic strip, each player takes on the role of three characters with contrasting profiles who experience adventures in a reconstructed historical environment. A serious game not only simulates reality, it creates situations for experimentation, decision-making and critical thinking, putting players in the position of innovators. The history of the bicycle allows us to explore the multiple dimensions (technical, organisational, economic, social, legal, etc.) of an innovative process. Gilles Garel and Loïc Petitgirard present the game's design and the use of play to teach innovation.