In partnership with Abertay University, Glasgow Caledonian University and the School of Innovation and Technology at the Glasgow School of Art

What to expect:

Join experts from industry and universities for this is a hands-on, multi-workshop event aimed at female and non-binary early High School years pupils, providing the opportunity for participants to rotate across different fun and educational gamified tech and computing activities, and includes inspiring talks from relatable industry professionals.

The programme for the day includes lightning talks, followed by three hands-on breakout workshops with a tech and computing theme.

The three hands on activities (participants will take part in all three):

The role of a Games Designer.
Two activities in one to get “under the bonnet” to explore what it is to be a Games Designer.
– Get creative with games design challenges, working with Games Design Students, this paper based activity enables you to explore your ideas and map out how they could be developed into a game.
– Play and navigate games with the developers who designed and built them to understand how ideas come to life, the challenges to consider along the way, and get the low down on what it is like to be a Games Designer.


Build a Game as a Team
Working in small groups, supported by experts, participants will split into three teams covering the key functions of games creation to understand the importance of each role and how they come together to deliver awesome games experiences.
One team will design levels for a platformer, one team will create the artwork, and one team will help code with guided help, and then put this altogether and have a game at the end that they will playtest together. The aim is to demonstrate the importance of collaboration and how awesome it is to bring different skills together and see your work in a product at the end – pure magic!.


What makes a successful gaming experience?
This workshop will ask you to consider what makes a successful game – you’ll work individually and in small groups to analyse your favourite games. What do these have in common, and what are some of the big differences? Then there will be an opportunity to plan the game you would like to make – and to share your ideas. Through this workshop we’ll explore how making games is not just a technical problem, but a highly creative one involving multiple creative and design disciplines.

Who is it for:

This event is recommended for S2 pupils to support making subject choices, but workshops are suitable for most ages so please use your discretion determining which students will gain the most from joining.

Where:

Summerhall, Edinburgh

When:

09:30 to 14:00 Tuesday 29 September 2026 

How to take part:

For more info and to register your High School, please contact the Ada Team – hello@ada.scot 

Check out the festival calendar of events here

Find out more about our partners here