I am currently Head of Department of Games and Arts with my teaching and research encompassing game concept development and experimental game design. After graduating with a BDes in Illustration and a BA (Hons) in Computer Arts, I completed a PhD which established methodologies for the mass market delivery of factual material within an appropriate, engaging and immersive interactive documentary experience.
I have experience in knowledge transfer activities as co-investigator for Moving Targets - a Scottish Funding Council, demand-led knowledge exchange project working with interactive and broadcast sector organisations to develop new models for production and user engagement in the multi-platform and online space. I also led Development Cultures - a knowledge transfer project which explored academic and industrial collaboration for innovation and best practice in experimental game design.
My recent activities explore the connections between performance and play in the context of games and other cultural forms. Through a PhD studentship in collaboration with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the National Theatre of Scotland I have collaborated on the design of Inchcolm Project – an immersive, live experience, inspired by the videogame Dear Esther. I was a co-investigator on InGAME (Innovation for Games and Media Enterprise - a ground-breaking R&D collaboration driving product, technology and process innovation in gaming.
I enjoy curating and participating in creative events and I lead the organisation of Abertay's flagship game design competion, Dare Academy.
Undergraduate Teaching
PG Research Supervision (Completed)
PG Research Supervision (Current)
My research interests are within the field of design with a focus on the structures, dynamics and aesthetics of videogames, and in particular the emergence of new interactive forms and design practices. As a designer and practitioner, I relish the collaborative process inherent within games development and regularly lead and participate in game jams and design workshops, with my contributions often resulting in playful forms of narrative, interaction and hand-crafted custom controllers.
2018 Co-Investigator, InGAME: Innovation for Games and Media Enterprise, AHRC
2015 SGSAH Applied Research Collaboration PhD Studentship
2015 Game Developers Conference 2015, Interactive Scotland
2014 Co-Investigator, Connecting Performance and Play, R-LINCS Pump Priming
2014 Principle Investigator, Development Cultures: Establishing an Academic and Industrial Network for Innovation and Best Practice in Experimental Game Design. Knowledge Transfer Grant
2010 Co-Investigator, Moving Targets. Scottish Funding Council
2007 XNA Development, Microsoft
2006 Dundee City Council, Cultural Event Film Production
External Examiner – BA/BDes (Hons) Alternative Futures, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, University of Dundee (2016-2019)
External Examiner – BA (Hons) Visual Media Theory, Ballyfermot College of Further Education (2016-2019)
Visiting Lecturer, The European Cross Media Academy, http://eucroma.dk
Fellow, The Higher Education Academy
2015 Connecting Performance and Play. Knowledge Exchange Network, National Theatre of Scotland, Dundee Rep, Abertay University.
2015 360 Digital – GDC Insights. Interactive Scotland, Dundee.
2014 Creative Territories: Exploring Innovation in Indie Game Production Contexts and Connections. AHRC Videogames Research Network, UWE Bristol and University of Brighton.
2014 Videogames in the Museum. AHRC Videogames Research Network, V&A London, Abertay University.
2014 Minimalism in Games. Presentation. DCA Game Jam, Dundee Contemporary Arts.
2014 Exposing Design Process, Videogames in the Museum, Abertay University.
2014 Development Cultures – Analogue to Digital Jam, Abertay University.
2014 Development Cultures –Intentions and Design Process, Abertay University.
2014 Interactive Documentary: Digital Storytelling and Adaptation, RIDERS & CIRCLE Collaboration, University of Edinburgh.
2013 Story, Emotional Engagement and Immersion within Video Games. Presentation. StoryLabs, Glasgow.
2013 Games With Meaning, Workshop, The European Cross-Media Academy, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2010 Co-Investigator, Moving Targets: Demand-led Knowledge Exchange – New Models for New Media Audiences in the Creative Media Industries.
2008 The Interactive Documentary, The Gameplay, MG Associates, Dundee.
2018 Why Can't I Beat My 12-Year-Old at Computer Games?, BBC News, August.
2016 Game Design: Serious Fun? Dundee Design Festival, Dundee.
2016 In the Cradle of Game Design: Q&A, Animation Career Review, January.
2015 Supporting graduate enterprise and innovation, written evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee Enquiry into the Creative Industries in Scotland.
2015 Are Videogames Good For You?, BBC iWonder, September.
2015 Get into Games Challenge, EDGE Magazine, May.
2015 Economic impact of the creative industries, written evidence to the Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee.
2014 Gaming and Shaming, Dundee Courier, December.
2014 A Design For Life: How game designers are shaping entire worlds for us to play with, PCFormat, December.
2014 William Morris painting inspires new computer game, BBC Scotland News, August
2013 9.03m, The Scotsman, November.
2007 6 Cities Design Festival ‘8-Bit and Beyond’ Games Retrospective.
f.pearston@abertay.ac.uk
+44 (0)1382 30 8524