Building Community Through Game Design

Games are a valuable learning tool that can simulate real-life scenarios and assist humanity in thinking beyond what we perceive as possible. Through games and game design, we aim to create new methods for building better teams and more inclusive communities. In this free workshop, participants will learn basic game design concepts, identify personal and collective values, and then work in teams to build cooperative games. The intention of this workshop is as much about learning how to design cooperative games as it is about identifying communities we are a part of (or would like to become a part of) and building a thinking toolkit to enhance our participation in the communities we exist in.

To apply for a spot in the workshop, please fill out a short Google form.

Workshop capacity will be limited to 15 people and is open to the general public.

Preference will be given to individuals who are interested in developing thought and practice around building community. No prior knowledge of games or game design is required to participate in the workshop.

You will receive an email confirmation about your spot in the workshop by Thursday, August 8th. Depending on attendance, we will organize a second workshop focused on play-testing each person’s game.

This workshop will be led by Ashlyn Sparrow and Leo Williams. Ashlyn is a game designer and Assistant Director of the Weston Game Lab at the University of Chicago. Leo Williams is a digital fabricator, artist, and fermenter and current community intern of The Fab Lab at the University of Chicago.

This event will be co-hosted by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Weston Game Lab.