Think. Play. Design – turning ideas into meaningful game art
How do game developers turn simple ideas into engaging player experiences?
In this 45-minute session, Lead Concept Artist Fernanders Koak will introduce the fundamentals of Design Thinking from identifying player needs, defining problems, and ideating gameplay mechanics, to rapid prototyping and creative iteration.
Students will gain insights into how successful games balance fun, functionality, and emotional engagement, and learn practical frameworks used in professional studios to design gameplay experiences that truly resonate with players.
Key takeaways include:
- Understanding the Design Thinking in a game development context
- Bridging creative art direction and gameplay design
- Tips on developing a player-centric mindset early in your career
Speaker’s profile
Fernanders Koak is a Lead Concept Artist at Tencent Lightspeed Studios, specialising in environment and gameplay visual design for multiple in-development projects. With over a decade of experience across video games, animation, and themed entertainment, he has contributed to both incubation prototypes and large-scale productions.
Beyond production work, Fernanders is a passionate educator, teaching courses in Concept Art, Blender for Game Artists, and Visual Development at institutions like Brainstorm School. His sessions focus on connecting design principles with creative problem-solving, inspiring the next generation of artists and designers to think critically, iterate boldly, and design with purpose.