Design for Play

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This interactive course immerses students in the world of analog game design, providing foundational skills applicable across various platforms—from simple preschool card games to kids skill and action, family board and party games, even digital games. Students will learn to think and work within multiple disciplines to design engaging, well-balanced games that extend beyond entertainment into real-world problem-solving. Through a hands-on, play-based approach, students will engage in game-playing and game-testing sessions while exploring key topics such as brainstorming, target market research, narrative development, game mechanics, sketching, and prototyping. The course includes curated readings from established designers, authors, and inventors to supplement learning. Working both independently and collaboratively, students will refine their designs while balancing gameplay mechanics. Students will present their own playable game prototypes which will be showcased at the course’s conclusion.