February 25, 2015

Artists discuss women in gaming at Moore College

Three women lead the 'Game Changers: Women Making Games' panel

By Aubrey Nagle
PhillyVoice Contributor

Moore College of Art & Design./for PhillyVoice

Moore College of Art & Design in Logan Square.

Moore College of Art & Design will host a panel of female video game industry professionals on Wednesday, March 4, for "Game Changers: Women Making Games." The panel will focus on women's experiences in the industry and will celebrate their progress in a free event open to the public.

BioWare level designer Jessica Hara Campbell will moderate the panel of artists Alison Carrier, Katy Farina and Casey Uhelski. Carrier is a UI/UX designer working at Electronic Arts in mobile gaming and is an advocate for diversity in her industry. New Jersey-born designer Farina currently works as the lead illustrator for Hullabaloo, which creates interactive children's stories. Uhelski illustrates the children's book series "KeeKee's Big Adventures" and is a freelance T-shirt designer.

Women often face discrimination in the largely male-dominated gaming industry. Sure to be a hot topic at this panel is last year's faux campaign for "ethics in gaming journalism," GamerGate, which produced more harassment and threats of violence toward women than any real progress.

Panels like this one are ways of disrupting the sexism so commonplace in the tech world. This community event should inspire those looking to join the industry and foster connections among those already working in it.