gameswemake.com is my PhD dissertation project. My background is in animation, digital media and film. I have a Master’s in Art+Design. Currently I am ABD in NC State University’s College of Humanities CRDM PhD Program.
Design Education and the Humanities have a lot of parallels. Design appropriates elements from other disciplines – including engineering, computer science and the humanities. I am interested in teaching students the basics of design thinking. Design thinking can be thought of as a process that combines both empirical research and intuitive exploration. It’s not necessarily linear, and the problems it tackles are often ill-defined. I’ve taught stop-motion animation for several years as an inroad for students into the work of a designer, A simple game design workshop is focused on the very same ideas – something that can leverage what students already know, but put them in the role of creator and designer.
I think game making, decoupled from a tech-heavy emphasis is a great way to teach basic design concepts to middle and high school students. The idea is to simplify and lower access to allow more students to become game designers and makers. There is little or no coding, instead the emphasis is on the design aspects of game making – creating games that are intriguing and fun to play.
This web site is based on the workshops I have taught through NC State University’s College of Design.
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