Game and Experience Design Workshop at JD School of Design – Exploring the World of Immersive Design

JD School of Design was abuzz to host a highly awaited workshop with innovative game designer Amaresh Deshpande. An author and designer into education through games, he has fresh ways of bringing design thinking in sync with gaming and pedagogy.

The three-hour workshop for students was quite an immersive experience, an hour and a half with hands-on exploration into games as the most powerful tools for learning and engagement. With insightful discussions and creative exercises at every minute, the session inspired the students, forcing them to rethink design possibilities.

The Journey Begins: Cardoo and the Art of Rethinking Design

The meeting started off with a very interesting introduction to Cardoo, a puzzle app that exemplifies the fusion of simplicity and challenge in design. The students got a chance to experience the mechanics of the game firsthand before delving into its evolution from design.

Amaresh introduced the group to the vocabulary of game design and discussed how choices taken while making a game can impact user experience. His teaching wasn’t abstract; he kept the students involved when he challenged them to rethink Cardoo.

The exercise? Change its number-based puzzles into a non-numbered format. Discussion ensued about the purpose and impact of such a change. Sometimes, something as small as this exercise morphed into digging deep into the intricacies of game design, offering creativity in problem-solving and thinking.

For the students coming from visual arts and UI/UX design backgrounds, it has been a great exercise because this particular exercise offered them an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a new context. Concepts seamlessly wove together for him, and he learned to appreciate the collaborative and multidisciplinary nature of game design.

In-Range: Dynamic Evolution

The second half of the workshop was the game In Range. This game is basically designed to change and evolve over time. Amaresh narrated his journey in creating this game, which gave behind-the-scenes information about how intricate designs and processes can be simplified without losing their core.

Through his honest storytelling, Amaresh revealed the difficulties and successes of iterative design. Students were offered the ability to discover various simplified versions of In Range, each iteration displaying the delicate balance between engagement and accessibility.

This exercise drove home a key lesson: True greatness is not about heaping more complexity but about distilling ideas to their core while still possessing impact. For young designers, it was a pivotal lesson about the iterative process and adaptability and centred thinking.

Learning Through Games Ends

Amaresh’s creativity extends well beyond traditional gaming. Though he modestly described himself as a “mediocre bridge player,” his innovations have transformed the way the classic card game is taught. His creations, Hool-a beginner-friendly version of the bridge-and Kida, a trick-taking primer app-introduced new life into a game often considered a complex and inaccessible pursuit.

Amaresh shares his journey, which was motivated by the challenge of teaching bridges to children amidst an age of distractions. His solutions were as creative as they were impactful. From designing Hool with its tournaments to converting In Range into a low-cost board game, he found ways in which thoughtful design could bridge gaps in learning and make what’s daunting in the first place accessible.

These anecdotes really connected to the students. It showed how game design transcends mere entertainment to actually become an authentic educational engagement tool.

Designing Beyond Boundaries

What made this workshop really unforgettable was Amaresh’s style. He could connect with the audience, not only making them listen to him but more importantly encouraging students to think, ask questions, and be active in the process.

Discussions ranged from the importance of numbers and icons in game design to the emotional impacts of different mechanics. Each of the topics was approached with a balance of depth and relatability, which made the workshop lively and thought-provoking.

For the students and faculty who attended, this was not only a workshop but discovering the hidden potential of game design. Convention creativity was challenged; even the simplistic approach can trigger innovation.

Takeaways for the Future

A room full of interest and buzzing excitement at the end of the session, a lot more was taken away from the sessions than just insight into game design. Students left with a deeper understanding of how design can shape experiences and solve problems while creating joy.

One participant noted: “Amaresh did not just teach us about games—he showed us how design can tell stories, evoke emotions, and make learning an adventure. This workshop has changed the way I think about creativity.”

A Catalyst for Creative Growth

The workshop by Amaresh Deshpande wasn’t just an event; it was a catalyst for creative growth. It showcased how game design could merge entertainment with education, leaving students inspired to explore this fascinating intersection.

For JD School of Design, the session was a reminder of the power of interdisciplinary learning and the importance of embracing innovative approaches to design. As Amaresh would say, “Design is not about solving problems but creating experiences that have meaning.”