Video Game Design Summer Camp (VGD)

Camp is FULL for Summer 2025.

Application is OPEN for Summer 2025. Register Now.

Application is CLOSED for Summer 2025.

This is an INVITE-ONLY camp.

Application is TBA for Summer 2025. Check back soon.

Age Group: 9th - 12th

Cost

Residential: $1,000
Commuter:
Virtual:
Day Camp:

Category: 3-D Sessions

Dates:

July 6 - 12

Residence Hall:

Scholarships: Yes, see details No

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This immersive Video Game Design Summer Camp (VGD) is for high school students who are interested in a deep dive to learn about video game design. This camp will go beyond the basics and will place emphasis on human centered design as a way to develop video games that are not only entertaining but also impactful.

During this camp, students will discover the diversity of game design such as marketing, narrative, level design, user experience research, and art. Students will begin by developing an idea, transforming that idea into a physical tabletop game, and then develop plans to integrate those mechanics into a video game. They will work together to learn about the game market, then brainstorm ideas to transform their STEM knowledge into game mechanics to promote learning. Additionally, students will spend some time exploring how to program using the game engine Godot and learn to tell their story using Inform7/Twine.

Testimonial

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Staff

Brian Guerrero is a post doc taking the role of K-12 Lead at the Siebel Center for Design (SCD). Graduating from the College of Education at the University of Illinois, Brian focused on researching the connections between video games and learning. He believes that through video games, individuals can develop autonomy and motivation towards new subjects using the mechanics, narratives and communities that games have been designed around. Using Minecraft as a vehicle for education, Brian worked on developing interest, knowledge, and skills around topics such as astronomy, computer science and data science. Within his thesis, Brian Guerrero looked at the role of collaboration within Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games groups, by analyzing the types of communication and tools employed by groups with varying levels of experience. He believes that through communication strategies and tools, less experienced groups can develop more effective solutions through methods that parallel the Human Centered Design (HCD) process. Currently he is working closely with educational organizations in Chicago to integrate more HCD into school curriculum to help with the development of 21st century skills.

Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions