• In English

  • Online Only
  • 8 Weeks / 8 Sessions

How to Design Worlds

Learn the fundamentals of worldbuilding, and understand how to craft settings for game development and diverse media.
Min students: 12 | Max students: 22

What you will learn

  • Analyse cultural and political influences on worldbuilding.
  • Develop worldbuilding concepts aligned with gameplay mechanics.
  • Demonstrate systems thinking in world creation.
  • Apply research methodologies to develop authentic worlds.
  • Integrate environmental and architectural aspects.

  • Interdisciplinary worldbuilding collaboration.
  • Evaluate worldbuilding elements for feasibility and coherence.
  • Create immersive and engaging worlds for gaming.
  • Construct compelling narratives based on foundational principles.
  • Adapt worldbuilding techniques for various media formats.
Write your awesome label here.
Start Date
March 26, 2025
End Date
May 14, 2025

K Yoland

Your Instructor:
K. Yoland is a producer and creative director with a background in game development, film, theatre, and interdisciplinary media with a PhD in spatial theory, conflict simulations and desertscapes. Working internationally, Yoland has led site-specific productions, directing actors, dancers, and film crews for live and digital audiences. In game development, Yoland collaborates with teams in animation, coding, level design, and narrative writing for projects, including the award-winning Disco Elysium. Yoland has taught at universities. [full bio]

Create immersive worlds for video games. 

The Course Includes:

  • 8 Live Sessions
  • 7 Homework Projects
  • Present and Get Feedback on your Work
  • Explore 3 Worlds
  • Class Summaries in PDF
  • Useful Resources

Requirements:

No specialised software or game development experience is required—just a passion for storytelling, creativity, and collaboration. Participants should be willing to explore new ideas and work together with teams. Access to Zoom required.

This course is ideal for:

  • Video Game Creatives & World Builders
  • Level Designers & Game Designers
  • Narrative Designers & Writers
  • Graduate/postgraduate students
  • Beginner & Intermediate game devs
  • Experienced professionals eager to expand their skills into game world creation
  • AAA, AA, and Indie video game developers
  • Artists & Costume Designers
Want to create immersive worlds for games? This course explores worldbuilding from interdisciplinary perspectives, covering a wide range of interconnected systems including environment, architecture, urbanism, politics, diverse cultures, visual art, fashion, industry and future technologies. Through seminars, workshops, and mentoring, students will develop unique game worlds while collaborating and refining their creative process.

Whether you're a game developer, designer, or artist, this course provides essential skills to build rich, authentic environments for interactive media.

Key Course Features

  • Interactive Workshops & Seminars: Hands-on learning through collaborative exercises and real-world applications.
  • Expert Mentoring: One-on-one and group feedback sessions to refine ideas.
  • Project-Based Learning: Develop three unique worlds across the course duration.
  • Cross-Disciplinary Exploration: Insights from fields such as geography, environmental science, visual arts, and more.
  • Practical Exercises: Build essential research and design skills for immersive game environments.



Lectures  on: 

  • First principles, techniques of worldbuilding
  • Systems thinking as a framework for worldbuilding
  • Methodologies and interdisciplinary research for worldbuilding
  • Understanding game mechanics and game design as integral to  worldbuilding in game development
  • Understanding how worldbuilding can apply beyond current technologies or game development 
  • Best practices and approaches for organising research, cross-referencing and note-taking.

Course Structure

  • The course is delivered over 8 weeks.
  • 8 Live Online Sessions: Covering key worldbuilding principles and applications.
  • Class Summaries & Resources: Materials to support diverse learning needs.
  • Homework tasks: Self-paced content to deepen learning outside of class.
  • Group and individual exercises to broaden and enrich understanding of holistic and systems thinking, cross-discipline collaboration and expanding fictional worlds.  
  • Project Presentations: Opportunities to showcase and receive feedback on your work.

Skills developed: Worldbuilding principles & techniques, interdisciplinary research, systems thinking for worldbuilding, creating and developing concepts, integrating gameplay mechanics into world design, building geographies and worlds, narrative design

Lectures Schedule

Times in Central European Time (CET)

Syllabus

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to have Zoom installed?

Yes. All online lessons are taught via Zoom.

Is there homework or preparation outside the weekly meetings?

Yes. It is recommended that you dedicate 3-5 hours focused study per week researching / working / collaborating / reading outside class. If you are concerned about this, please get in touch. 

I have no experience in worldbuilding. Can I take this course?

Yes! If you are curious, imaginative, and enjoy research, you’ll be a great fit.

I already work in game development but have never collaborated in a worldbuilding group. Is this course suitable for me?

Yes. Be prepared to step into new roles beyond your current experience and embrace collaboration. You'll have the opportunity to contribute your expertise while learning from different disciplines involved in building a world from the ground up.

I come from a different career background (e.g., history, politics, environmental science, architecture, design). Is this course appropriate for me?

Yes! If you're open to learning new creative skills while applying and sharing your existing knowledge, you'll find this course valuable. An interest in research is essential.

I’m not used to working in groups. Is this course a good fit for me?

Yes, as long as you're willing to expand your working style. This course offers a great opportunity to develop collaboration skills by listening, sharing, and working alongside peers in a supportive environment.

I’m used to leading projects. Will this course suit me?

It depends. You won't be in a leadership role, so you'll need to be open to sharing responsibilities, collaborating equitably, and adapting your working style. If you're willing to listen, contribute, and embrace teamwork, this can be a rewarding experience.

I speak English but prefer to do research in my native language. Is that okay? Is there homework outside the weekly meetings?

Absolutely! However, please ensure that you share, present, and translate your findings into English so the group can collaborate effectively and provide constructive feedback.

Can I use AI platforms for research?

While AI can be helpful for tasks such as checking grammar, typos, and improving clarity, it is strongly recommended that you focus on developing your own voice, vision, and creative skills. Relying on AI for ideas, sources, and theories can introduce bias and limit originality. On this course, AI should be used primarily as a writing aid rather than a foundation for your creative work.

Is an intermediate or advanced worldbuilding course planned?

Potentially, but nothing is confirmed yet—stay tuned! Future courses may be aimed at self-organised groups or individuals looking to develop a real game concept.

What's the refund policy?

A 100% refund -no questions asked- if you cancel up to 24 hours before the first live session.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes, instalment payment options are available in most cases. Please reach out to us at info@d6learning.com to discuss the best plan for you.

More questions?

Please contact us directly here. We will respond within 1 to 2 days.
Created with