Stefan Schmidlin

Stefan Schmidlin works as a researcher and lecturer in game design focusing on serious games and game technology. He holds an M.Sc. degree in Computer Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne and an M.A. in Game Design from the Zurich University of the Arts.

He currently works as a researcher on the SNF Sinergia project Confoederatio Ludens - Swiss Game History, Play and Game Design 1968–2000. Previous research projects focused on the design and creation of serious games in the fields of education and health, such as ImaginEd (facilitating digital transformation in schools), Foodscape (teaching ecololgical sustainability), ExerG (prevention of falls in geriatric populations) or Murder at the Museum (fostering engagement with museum exhibitions).

As a lecturer, Stefan is the Co-Head of the CAS continuing education programme 'Games & Play in Virtual Spaces' and co-leads the study minor Serious Games and Virtual Learning Environments at Zurich University of the Arts. He teaches game development, serious game design and queer game studies, and is involved in curriculum development and programme marketing.

Stefan is a member of the foundation board of Zurich Film Fund, where he acts as the expert on digital culture and oversees the new funding programme for games and interactive media. He is also a member of the board of IGDA's Switzerland Chapter.