Learning to Design Through Play
Before taking this class, I thought play simply meant doing something fun that helped people relax and feel happy. I also believed that game design required extensive programming knowledge and had a very high barrier to entry. It seemed like something that only people with strong technical backgrounds could do. After this class, however, my understanding of both play and game design has completely changed.
I realized that play is not only a break from learning. It can be a way of learning. Through play, people can experiment, make decisions, communicate with others, and understand complex ideas through experience. I also learned that although game design is not easy, it does not always require advanced programming skills. Games can begin with paper, cards, drawings, conversations, or even one simple idea. Anyone who has an idea can find a way to turn it into a game.
Throughout the course, I learned concepts such as MDA and different types of fun. These concepts helped me understand that designers must think about more than whether a game “works.” We also need to consider the experience and emotions created by its mechanics. I began paying more attention to important elements such as the target audience, visual design, narrative, and systems. Through sketchnotes and critical play essays, I practiced observing games more carefully and explaining why particular design choices affected me as a player.
Teamwork was another important part of my journey. I practiced communicating with my teammates, sharing my ideas, and listening to different perspectives. This was sometimes challenging. Our ideas could not always be communicated clearly, and sometimes everyone was too busy to discuss and complete certain tasks together. However, as the course continued, we gradually found a better balance. We learned how to communicate, collaborate, divide responsibilities, and learn from one another more effectively.
I have also grown personally through this process. I can now participate more confidently in group work and actively choose tasks that fit my strengths. My art skills improved significantly as I created characters, enemies, NPCs, icons, and other visual elements for our games. I also used Claude for the first time, which improved my ability to work with AI as a creative and technical tool. Most importantly, I became more comfortable expressing my opinions and giving feedback that could help other groups improve their games.
If I continue designing games, I hope to create the later chapters of our Project 2 game, The Cold City. One day, I would also like to make a game that people from many different age groups can enjoy—a game that gives them a brief moment of rest from their busy lives and perhaps helps them reconnect with themselves. This class taught me that I do not need to wait until I become an expert to start creating. Sometimes, a game begins simply because someone has an idea and is willing to play with it.
P.S. I absolutely love my teammates—like, a lot, a lot!! Thank you for making this whole journey so much more fun, memorable, and special! 💗
