Speakers
Carl Varnado, Narrative Designer/Educator, Rancho Solano Prep
Carl Varnado is a writer, educator, and narrative consultant with credits on Need for Speed Unbound, Dragon Age: Veilguard, Street Fighter 6, and Wyld Flowers. He is the creator of Black Heroes Matter and Executive Director of Black in Gaming, where he advocates for inclusive storytelling and industry equity. A frequent speaker at GDC, Comic-Con, and the Essence Festival, Carl also teaches game and film production, helping students build real-world pipelines using Unreal Engine, AI, and collaborative narrative tools. His work blends technical rigor, cultural perspective, and deep experience in education - making him a powerful voice at the intersection of design and identity.