tech art fest
22 Feb / 4:00pm-7:00pm / WESTGATE SHOPPING CENTRE
A brief appeal for approachable game design
Alexander Johansson challenges the gaming industry to rethink its focus on lengthy gaming experiences by exploring the importance of designing for diverse audiences, including the elderly, and advocating for more inclusive and innovative approaches in a stagnant industry.
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Are you ready to challenge the status quo in the gaming industry?
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What innovative design approaches can we explore to make gaming accessible to everyone?
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Will you join us in a movement that encourages fresh ideas and inclusivity in an industry that needs change?
What it’s about
Why are we building 100 hour experiences for gamers when there are still billions of people who've never had a 100 hour second games experience, ever? This is a critical question the games industry has to face and that I've been exploring over the last two years. In this talk, I'll discuss my experience as a designer of alternative controllers over the last decade and how it led me to approachable design for audiences beyond gamers. I'll talk about some of the different audiences I've designed experiences for and my ambitions for who I want to work with next. I'll talk about potential audiences such as the elderly and the potential for considering them as legitimate players! All in all, this talk is a rallying cry for a stagnant, bloated industry out of ideas in crisis to consider the unthinkable; Why not take a chance on someone new?
This talk will end at 5pm after this there will be networking from 5pm - 7pm which is open to all.
What to expect
During this talk, you'll explore the gaming industry's emphasis on lengthy experiences for gamers and consider fresh perspectives on how it can evolve. Drawing on a decade of experience in designing alternative controllers, Alexander Johansson will share valuable insights into creating approachable designs that engage audiences beyond traditional gamers. Through engaging anecdotes and reflections, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of their journey and ambitions for future projects, while contributing to a wider discussion about inclusivity in gaming design.
This event for 18+ only and is aimed at young professionals, businesses interested in creative tech and educators exploring the future of art and technology.
Event timings:
- 4:00pm: 45min Talk
- 4:45pm: 15mins Q&A
- 5:00pm - 7:00pm: Networking social
WHEN
Saturday 22nd February
4:00pm - 7:00pm
WHERE
Unit 10, Westgate Shopping Centre, Basildon, SS14 1WP
BOOK YOUR PLACE
About the speaker
Alexander Johansson
I am an award winning experimental games designer, educator and maker from Sheffield. I'm a specialist in approachable design and a passionate advocate for creating immersive experiences for marginalised audiences ignored by the games industry and tech, such as the elderly.
I have over a decade of experience building "alternative controllers" and touring them around the world. My works focus on creating playful LED installations and games controllers made from familiar objects such as watering cans and door handles.
Most recently I was a creative producer for Plug in and Play, a nature themed games trail in Rotherham in association with the National Videogame Museum and Children's Capital of Culture.
About the organiser
Connor Turansky
Connor Turansky (he/him) is an Essex-based visual artist and educator working at the intersection of technology and art. With a Master’s in Photographic Arts from the University of Westminster, Connor combines photographic methodology with mixed reality, paper engineering, electronics and projection mapping to explore themes of simulation, perception, wonder and accessibility.
As a neurodivergent artist, Connor applies anti-gatekeeping pedagogy to make tech-art practices inclusive. He leads the Emerging Media Space at the University of Westminster and collaborates with organisations to create accessible workshops. His work has been exhibited across the UK, including projects featured at Peckham Digital and the V&A South Kensington.
Currently, Connor is programming Tech Art Fest 2025, building a community workshop at his studio in The Blokhouse CIC, and caring for his pet chickens.