Biographical Statement
Brandon Lyman (M.S., Ph.D. Student) is a game designer and researcher dedicated to creating innovative and impactful digital experiences. He is currently a Ph.D. student in Interdisciplinary Design + Media at Northeastern University, where he is mentored by Dr. Bob De Schutter. His work focuses on designing digital games for older adults, searching for new ways to challenge the cognitive, social, emotional, and creative strengths of this generation through gameplay.
With a background in game science, economics, and statistics, Brandon’s approach to game design is both data-driven and human-centered. Focused on perspectives from gerontology, his research explores gerontoludic design, aiming to enrich lives through meaningful play across the lifespan. His academic contributions include conference papers on gaminiscing, serious games about immigration stories, and adaptive game workflows using AI models.
Brandon achieved the Outstanding Master’s Student Award in Teaching for his work as a teaching assistant for a graduate level design course, and his creative work has received accolades such as 1st Place in the IndieCade Hidden Heroes Game Jam Competition. He has experience developing games at the STEG Lab at Northeastern University and co-creating experimental projects at the intersection of research and art.
Before his transition into game design, Brandon worked as a quantitative analyst in the financial sector, gaining expertise in data analysis, modeling, and systems thinking. This unique blend of creative and technical skills positions him as a unique and valuable designer working on behalf of underserved game audiences.
Brandon lives in Boston, MA, where he continues to design, research, and create digital games, a medium he has been passionate about since childhood.
