On 28 August 2026, the i-Game project brought its participatory approach to game creation to S.M.A.K. in Ghent, Belgium, through a co-creation workshop organised by our project partner MuseoSpace Foundation. Targeted specifically at young people, the event created an open and creative environment where participants could explore how different perspectives, experiences and ideas can become the starting point for meaningful game concepts.
The workshop was hosted by S.M.A.K., whose Mini Museum provided the inspiration for the creative process. Aline Van Nereaux, Audience Experience & Education Coordinator at S.M.A.K., introduced participants to the Mini Museum and its objects. Designed as a mobile and nomadic collection of contemporary art, the Mini Museum aims to make art accessible to wider audiences. Participants were encouraged to explore its objects, develop their own interpretations and use them as a starting point for imagining possible game experiences.
The game ideation process was facilitated by Chris Solarski, a transmedia director and acclaimed author based in Zurich, Switzerland. Drawing on his expertise in game design and shared interactive experiences, he introduced participants to key game design principles and guided them in transforming their initial thoughts into more structured game concepts.
Working collaboratively, the young participants explored the co-creation platform, gameplay, storytelling and the role of different perspectives in shaping a game, gradually developing their ideas towards the foundations of a Game Design Document (GDD). Rather than simply experiencing games as players, they had the opportunity to become active co-creators, experimenting with how ideas can evolve through dialogue, creativity and play.
The workshop demonstrated one of the principles at the heart of i-Game: game creation does not need to be limited to professional developers or programmers. By providing accessible tools and collaborative processes, people with different backgrounds, skills and experiences can contribute to the design of games and bring their own perspectives into the creative process.
Through activities such as the Ghent workshop, i-Game continues to bring together young people, museums, educators, researchers, game developers and cultural organisations to explore the potential of collaborative game creation and how games can contribute to innovation, sustainability, social cohesion and wellbeing.
