Womenize! – Inspiring Stories is our weekly series featuring inspirational individuals from games and tech. For this edition we talked to Isabel Grünberg, Game & Narrative Designer. She speaks about finding inspiration in life’s diverse experiences, breaking away from familiar storytelling patterns, and finding your own place in the games industry through community, perseverance, and curiosity. Read more about Isabel here:
Hi Isabel!  You wear many hats from narrative designer and creative director to educator, mentor, and community organizer. How have these different roles influenced the stories you choose to tell in games, and what have they taught you about creating meaningful player experiences?

I’m not sure if it’s the roles I fill that inspire me. Rather, it’s the wide range of experiences I’ve been able to gain so far – whether through my training, my studies, all the odd jobs I’ve done over the years, or all the places and cultures I’ve had the chance to travel to. I want to tell stories that are as diverse as life itself, and I believe that’s exactly what creates an interesting playing experience.

Accessibility and diversity are central to your work as a game and narrative designer. In your view, what does truly inclusive storytelling look like, and what (practical) changes would you like to see the games industry embrace over the next few years?

I think it was Hartmut Koenitz who accused Western media of engaging in “narrative fundamentalism” by constantly reproducing the same stories, patterns, and characters. For the future, I hope to see more diverse development teams that draw inspiration from more than just Western-centric storytelling, that don’t feel the need to reproduce stereotypes, and that fill their stories with narrative structures that feel fresh and evoke raw emotions.

Alongside your design work, you invest a lot of time in mentoring emerging talent and helping shape the games community through organizations like GAME:IN and GamesTalente Akademie. What advice would you give to aspiring game designers (especially women and marginalized creators) who want to find their voice and make an impact in the industry?

The industry is tough and can often feel lonely. Communities can help you meet the right people, discover the right places, and find your way. We have to show a lot of perseverance right now, but things will get easier again. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Find your niche and what makes you happy, and the rest will follow! Take advantage of the opportunities around you, network, seek out mentors, and find the possibilities that are everywhere – believe me, there are still opportunities out there; sometimes you just have to look a little closer

Thanks for this interview, Isabel!

Isabel’s links: LinkedIn

 

Womenize! – Inspiring Stories Feature by Madeleine Egger