| For my newest project, I have been working with Dundee City Council and Abertay University’s Outreach and Public Engagement Network to bring games art and design to Dundee’s Primary Schools. Although children play games, most of them have no idea how they are created. In my hour long lessons, I go over what goes into making digital games as well as the skills, roles and careers. When they are given the chance to come up with their initial game ideas, I suggest that they become inspired by things they are studying or inspirations. This has led to many games about rain forests and World War Two. |
In order to get the children thinking about making a game based on inspirations, I show them my Strawberry Thief game, inspired by William Morris, and a few other games inspired by art, such as Monument Valley and The Cat That Got The Milk. Dundee has many active code clubs which often take place in schools at lunchtime or after school. These are great workshops which teach programming through programs like Scratch and Kodu. My workshops can run alongside these code clubs, as they are focused on art, design and creativity. I am very interested in the children telling their own stores through games design, and thinking aboutaesthetics and game feel. | |
As well as this new project, I am at the early stages of a new game idea! Continuing on from my work at the V&A, I am keen to do another game inspired by famous British artists. I have decided to look at the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s wife Margaret Macdonald, as well as the art of her sister Frances. I’m in the early stages of research at the moment, and look forward to sharing more info!