SERENA YANG (b. 2002)
Game Designer and Researcher
- My Philosophy -
I consider myself more of a multifaceted media consumer than a typical gamer. Anything that shares inspiring ideas and holds artistic or scientific values I read, watch, and play. To me, there are no boundaries among media types when it comes to humanity’s attempts to understand and depict the world we live in.
My current work centers on video games and interactive media because they offer the most dynamic and immersive ways to engage audiences. I define successful “educational games” as meaningful experiences that transcend locations, cultures, and time. They enable us to gain valuable insights about ourselves and others, helping to bridge cognitive gaps and reduce biases.
Rather than designing educational experiences with “predetermined correct answers” resembling indoctrination, I strive to create open-ended “sandboxes” where diverse ideas and philosophies are generously presented. The various ideologies create opportunities for players to freely cultivate their curiosity while finding personal answers that speak to them through introspection and discovery.
In our increasingly digitized and interconnected world, video games and virtual reality will serve as dominant platforms for human expression and experience. As an emerging content creator and scholar, I am dedicated to leveraging these media to develop innovative products and research that address real-world challenges and shape our collective digital future.
21-Year-Old Me
6-Year-Old Me :)
- My Journey-
My fascination with storytelling and fantasies began at an early age. Ever since first grade, I watched films weekly with my parents, exploring worlds of wonder, science fiction, animation, love, and struggle. They treated me as an intellectual equal with independent thinking despite my youth. I am forever grateful for the critical thinking and keen perception they nurtured in me as two individuals working in higher education.
These shared media experiences and our numerous discussions over the years enhanced my personal cognition and opened my eyes to a world of nuanced and diverse perspectives, ones much different from mine. I found great joy in seeing the world through others’ eyes, stepping into their shoes, and experiencing adventures through my imagination. Meanwhile, I’ve grown to develop a strong desire to share these emotions, ideas, and experiences through drawings, writing, and music.
While I initially aspired to become a film director, my path shifted dramatically in seventh grade when I discovered my first 3D triple-A game. I immediately realized, with great excitement and surprise, that video games—interactive, immersive, and dynamic—can offer me the powerful and precious opportunity to create the intellectual reflective spaces that my parents built for me during my upbringing. Not only can I express myself with my narratives, but I can also invite others to share these deeply thoughtful and reflective moments with me using this amazing medium.
Since this realization, I've dedicated myself to not only playing video games, but also studying their creation, history, evolution, and cultural impact. During my undergraduate studies at Marquette University where game studies were not available as a formal program, I designed my own interdisciplinary curriculum to prepare for my future career. I majored in computer science, data science, and mathematics while minoring in digital media, studio art, and creative writing.
Currently, I am pursuing a Master's degree in Game Science and Design at Northeastern University. I engage in both industry work and academic research in game design, analytics, and social studies. Following graduation, I plan to continue my academic journey through a PhD program focusing on the development and research of video games and education.
Fifteen years have passed since I first fell in love with creative storytelling and the process of dissecting humanity and society. I am now closer than ever to actualizing my dreams, walking the path I have cultivated through years of commitment and hard work. I firmly believe that life is a continuous journey of learning and discovery. I will continue this exploration and bring inspiration to a broad audience in the decades to come.