A little about myself...
I'm David, a driven game designer and producer. I’ve been creating games since I was young, but while pursuing my degree in Computer Science and Game Design at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I recognized their potential for education and reflection. My focus is on designing serious games that tackle real-world topics with engaging mechanics and thoughtful design.
I have a strong background in game design, having created several award-winning serious games across diverse genres. I bring extensive experience leading teams through all stages of development, from initial concepts to polished releases. My expertise lies in mechanics and experience design, with additional skills in narrative, UI design, and programming.
Tools & Software
Design & Organization
Jira
Figma
Notion
Asset Creation
Illustrator
Photoshop
Aseprite
Game Design Portfolio
Figure it Sprout
Designer, Producer, and UI/UX Developer
April - June, 2023
Figure it Sprout is a grid-based puzzle game I led the design for, collaborating with a team of three over the summer of 2023. I created the game’s mechanics and levels, and crafted its UI interface and overall aesthetic. Beyond design, I took on the producer role, ensuring the team stayed organized and met project milestones.
This game was showcased at Dreamhack Atlanta 2023 and was sponsored and published by the charity organization Jennifer Ann's Group. An expanded version is currently in development for Steam, set to release in 2025.
Local
Producer, Lead Writer, Designer
April - June, 2024
Local is a narrative-driven game I led as producer and lead writer, collaborating with a team of 10. I organized the project using Jira to track and assign programming, art, and writing tasks while holding weekly meetings to ensure progress and address challenges. As lead writer, I wrote most of the dialogue for the game’s characters, defining their personalities and arcs. I also worked on the game’s design and created assets for the UI.
This game was submitted to the Jennifer Ann's Group Game Design Challenge 2024, where it won 3rd prize.
This game is not public yet.
Game Jam
Winner
Still
Producer, Writing and Art
October 19 - 26, 2023
Still is a narrative-driven game created during a week-long game jam hosted by Respawn Games in Madison. Players take on the role of an intergalactic resource inspector, tasked with surveying an alien planet by taking pictures with a Polaroid camera.
As producer, I managed our seven-person team by keeping tasks on schedule, maintaining the project’s scope, and ensuring constant clear communication. I took charge of writing the narrative, coordinated with our five artists to streamline the asset creation process, and established a roadmap to keep the game on track for the deadline.
The game won first place in the jam and received praise from Respawn Games for its design and execution.
Playing for Real
Student Organization, Leadership
October, 2022 - Ongoing
Playing for Real is a student organization I have been leading since Spring 2023, focused on providing authentic game design experience to members from diverse majors. I work closely with game design professors and other university resources to guide members in collaborating on team projects and developing skills using industry tools like Jira and Figma. Under my leadership, the club has showcased games at events like the Play Make Learn conference.
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