Synopsis for Creativity in the Game Design Classroom

The way we educate new game designers has profound implications for their later creativity and productivity – and for the health of the game industry as a whole. Will we turn out a generation of students who are comfortable with innovation in game design? Or will we teach them to make safe, conventional, predictable choices?

This presentation combines research results from creativity studies with lessons from hands-on experience. We will cover creativity in the game design classroom from beginning to end – curriculum design, teaching practices, grading and assignments, classroom culture, student recruitment and more.

Classroom learning is, of course, only a part of what it takes to make a creative designer. Student clubs, game jams, mentoring programs and more all play their part. What goes on in the game design classroom, though, can either support or undermine our larger educational enterprise. Let's see that it does the former!