MAKER IN RESIDENCE

DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY’S ideaLAB

A two month artist/maker-in residence at the Denver Central Library’s maker space ideaLAB. I was commissioned to explore the room resources and interact with library patrons, work on thesis project and present workshops at the end of stay. My focus was on creating an “open source” table top game system where visitors could design their own game, share individual projects and build on one and other’s creations both in the actual lab and in a virtual setting fostering both small community game play and larger engagement of players and designers.

Along with finding game applications for the 3D printers, sewing machine, button maker, and computer software, I also utilized discarded maps and books which the library had on hand to give literary narrative to several of the games I designed in the space including a Wes Anderson themed RPG and books with game boards hidden inside. I created a Facebook page along with blog posts to document residency and engage larger audience outside of Denver.

RESIDENCY BLOG POSTS

Inclusive Gaming We Play Better Together

The most fantastically awesome game event I ever attended was a pie fight party. My friend Marilyn hosted it as a fundraiser for some of her tenants who were members of Clowns Without Borders  The pie fight arena didn’t have a whole lot of rules- it was a large section of grass  marked off where you […]

Equity, Identity and Barriers for Entry in the Game World

Making game play and design accessible to a diverse audience has been a central theme of my residency project. As kids we all play games, creating, exploring and ignoring rules is a condition of childhood.  Playing and watching traditional sports is the most conventional way game play continues into our adulthood.  A huge number of […]

Exploring the Space

Hanging out at the ideaLAB is like being a kid locked in the toy store- there are so many amazing machines, tools and software to play with, I’m a little overwhelmed and also never want to leave.  Having game design as a thesis to explore the space is a wonderful framework for me, giving context […]