GDC 2025 Session Viewer
Independent Games Summit: Meetings Make Games! Fostering Empathy and Focus in Collaborative Discussion
Michelle Olson (Mission Designer, Lightspeed LA)
Pass Type: All Access Pass, Summits Pass, Indie Games Summit Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: Independent Games
Format: Lecture
Vault Recording: TBD
Audience Level: All
Creative meetings are wonderful yet delicate things - they can be exhilarating… but if not run with intention, can become exasperating. Sometimes a single voice dominates the room. Sometimes no one feels empowered to speak. Worst of all, a poorly run design meeting can make attendees feel like it was all a waste of time.
With indie development, every minute is precious - What can we do to consistently boost the energy, productivity, and magic of these meetings? How can we get the most out of our designers and foster an environment of creativity, camaraderie, and focus? In this talk, game designer and former game director Michelle Olson will introduce and discuss the importance of psychological safety, and how meeting structure, communication style, and a whole lot of empathy can assist with making your meetings energizing, efficient, and empowering.
Takeaway
Attendees will leave with a better understanding of psychological safety, and its importance in running efficient, empathetic, and engaging meetings. With a better understanding of common issues that disrupt a meeting's creativity and flow, they will gain a practical framework for improved meeting culture to share with their teams.
Intended Audience
The intended audience for this talk is for anyone who wants to lead or participate in more focused and empathetic creative meetings, and want to create environments where people of all identities, professional ranks, and creative disciplines feel empowered to speak up.