OSU Design MFA Students Shine at Games for Good Conference
Two Design MFA students from The Ohio State University showcased innovative approaches to game design at Clark University’s Games for Good conference, highlighting how interactive media can foster environmental awareness and cultural engagement.
Exploring Environmental Scales Through Game Design
Josh Antolovic, an MFA candidate in Design, presented “Designing Virtual Ecosystems Across Scales,” a 50-minute talk drawn from his thesis research. His work introduces a framework for environment-centered game design, guiding creators to reflect on and research environmental scales—from the intimate perspective of gardens to the vastness of geologic time.
“The framework requires selecting, reflecting, and researching on environmental scales,” Antolovic explained. “I delved into these ideas from both a gardenly and geologic perspective.”
This approach encourages designers to embed ecological thinking into gameplay, shaping how players experience and interact with virtual worlds.
Bringing Cultural Heritage to Life Through Play
Alberto Vega Rivera, also an MFA Design student, shared the story behind “Oí Marimbí, the marimba video game,” originally developed in 2019 with his design studio La Valiente and the University of Cauca. Thanks to support from OSU’s Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS), the game was re-launched in English this year, reaching a broader audience.
“As a result of this collaboration, the video game is reaching a broader audience,” Vega Rivera said. “And thanks to the MFA courses, I’m expanding Marimbí’s universe using AR and VR technologies.”
The project demonstrates how culturally grounded game design can serve as an educational tool while embracing emerging technologies to create immersive experiences.
About Games for Good
Hosted by Clark University, the Games for Good conference convenes designers, researchers, and educators to explore how games can drive social impact and learning. This year’s program emphasized ethical design, cultural storytelling, and innovation in interactive media.