MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node Summer Academy: Game Design

A 5-day intensive workshop in Hong Kong led by MIT Game Lab – Design, build, and pitch your own game!

Bootcamp Details

Program Period

July 20 – 24, 2026 (5 full days)
9:30 am – 4:30 pm (lunch included)

Learning Outcomes

Design theory, critique, and the ethics of play.
Paper prototyping and iterative playtesting.
Core game design: mechanics, narrative, and player experience.
How play shapes culture – and how culture shapes play.
Pitching your game in a final group showcase.

Eligibility

Students aged 15 – 18

Medium of Instruction

English

Venue

MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node, 1/F, 78 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

About MIT Game Lab

The MIT Game Lab, founded in 2007, combines the inventiveness of MIT engineering and computer science with the expertise of scholars, creators, and technologists to teach, conduct research, and pursue innovative game design. Gaming is not only a site of leisure but a medium where domains such as civics, education, and work utilize. Rather than simply focusing on reproducing the current state of gaming, the lab uses novel methods and deep qualitative research to explore the possibilities of play. Rooted in social science research and action-based interventions, the lab focuses on expanding participation, amplifying voices, and transforming industry practice.

MIT Game Lab Instructors

Rik Eberhardt
Lead Instructor – MIT Game Lab

Program Manager and instructor for MIT Game Lab courses on game production and design. Mentor and director of award-winning learning games includinig elude. Certified Scrum Master and PMI Agile Practitioner.

Mikael Jakobsson
Lead Instructor – MIT Game Lab

Research scientist and instructor exploring the border between game design and game culture. Teaches game design, game criticism, and interaction design. Investigates how gaming fits into social and cultural practices.