"Game Design for Game Developers" is an introductory class that explores how games are imagined, structured, and brought to life. Whether you’re interested in video games, tabletop games, mobile apps, or other interactive experiences, this class breaks down what makes games engaging, meaningful, and fun. No prior design or development experience is required.
The course begins by examining the core building blocks of games: mechanics, dynamics, and player experience. Students learn how rules shape behaviour, how systems interact over time, and how player choices create emergent outcomes. Through analysis of actual game examples, we explore why some designs feel compelling while others fall flat.
A major focus of the class is user-centred design. Students will learn to think from the player’s perspective, considering motivation, challenge, feedback, accessibility, and emotional impact. Topics such as flow, level design, and documentation are introduced to help designers create experiences that are both engaging and approachable.
The class also includes a few practice tasks for everyone to join in or to simply spectate as example cases.
By the end of the class, students will understand the fundamental principles that guide successful game design, be able to analyse objects and features with a critical designer’s eye, and confidently communicate their own game ideas. This class is ideal for aspiring designers and anyone else interested in how games work under the hood.

TeaserDesign

Introduction to Game Design

How Designers think through problems

Shorthand about Documentation

User Experience Introduction

Principles of Interaction

Principles of Gestalt

Luck vs Skill

Loss Aversion

Regret

Framing

Level Design Introduction

How to plan your Levels

Themes and Emotions for Levels

Maps

Level Design Tips and Tricks

Game Loops

Feature Loops 

Meta Loops

Feedback Loops

Types of Feedback

Balance through Feedback

Flow

Space

FlowSpace

Closing Statement

Game Design for Game Developers

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Game Design for Game Developers

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