Level unlocked: Inside the Game Design Learning Lab in Parks Library

The University Library unveiled an exciting new Game Design Learning Lab in fall 2025; it's a dedicated space to transform creative ideas into interactive digital experiences. This computer lab features five tables, each equipped with five- high-performance PCs, arranged to foster small group collaboration and hands-on prototyping.

The lab has already become a hub of innovation for game design students. The PCs handle demanding development tools, while the centralized location in Parks Library allows students to work seamlessly during and after class. Work can be saved on the lab computers between sessions, making it easier to iterate on projects over time.

“The layout of the space/room encourages small group work (five tables of five computers each), which of course means I try to incorporate in-class activities that benefit from the space,” said Jared Hansen, assistant professor in graphic design. “The PCs are also a blessing…I’m just glad to have a nice computer lab that my students can use outside of class to work on their assignments.”

“The lab is well made with exceptional computers that allow computing built to withstand intensive games,” said Faith Sheets, a fourth-year student majoring in game design with an art focus. “The library was a good choice within campus to hold this lab because of the centralized location and the atmosphere the library brings.”

Sheets said the lab allows for small group collaboration and the ability to move around to look at what others are doing on their computers elsewhere in the room.

According to Hansen, students dive into a mix of individual prototypes and collaborative demos, often circling up at tables to brainstorm or sketching ideas on the whiteboard. One group even relocated to a study room in Parks Library to continue their collaboration.

Hansen cited two standout midterm projects to highlight the lab’s impact. One inventive puzzle game challenges players to manage a fridge full of food, collecting items for points before they expire and grow moldy, a clever take on the theme/prompt of ‘decay,’ with random accumulations adding tension and strategy. In another compelling demo, the game player is a dystopian cleaning robot on a mission to purify a polluted world. As the robot progresses, the environment visually transforms from grim and contaminated to vibrant and renewed.

Looking ahead, Hansen plans to integrate more library resources. “I think moving forward I’m going to try to incorporate other library services into my curriculum such as Tech Lending so that I can bring in hardware during class for my students to use.”

“Game design is the best because it’s not every day that your homework is the one thing you enjoy doing, playing a game,” Sheets said.

Learn more about the space and reserve a computer seat. Questions about the lab? Contact lib-support@iastate.edu.

The Game Design Learning Lab in Parks Library is a collaborative partnership with Col. Gary G. Swenson Ph.D. Dean of Library Services Hilary Seo and Lisa Smith, David Harborth, and Landon Muhl from IT in the University Library; Associate Dean Rob Whitehead, Alenka Poplin, and Jared Hansen in the College of Design; and Associate Dean Arne Hallem, Jeffrey Wheatley, and Jeremy Best in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.