V&A Appoints BAFTA Winner As First Ever Game Designer In Residence

The V&A Museum “the world’s greatest museum of art and design” has appointed its first ever Game Designer In Residence.  It’s someone who may be familiar to Scottish Games Network readers.  Sophia George is (deep breath now), a former Abertay Student, the chair of SwallowTail Games (creator of Tick Tock Toys), which is a Dare to be Digital winner, BAFTA Ones To Watch award winner and Prototype Fund recipient.

She can now add pioneer, games ambassador and luminary to those credits, with her appointment to the V&A.  Can games be art?  It would seem the V&A believe so…

We covered the museum’s search for a game designer in residence back in February when the position was first advertised.  We pointed out at the time, that this was an incredible opportunity to get out there and do something new, something important.  It gives us a chance to show the world that games and interactive meda have far more to offer than space marines, ever more realistic bullet holes and explosions.

Sophia’s appointment has sparked a huge amount of interest worldwide.  Alongside the games media, the BBC, Wired, Independent, Metro, Herald etc. have all covered the appointment.

We spoke to Sophia earlier this week and asked her how she was finding the attention, the interest and the opportunity.  She told us:

I feel extremely grateful for this opportunity at the V&A as the first Game Designer in residence. Not only is this going to be a great experience for me, but its amazing that games are being recognised as an art form by the very prestigious V&A museum. As a former Abertay student and Dare to be Digital competitor, it also makes me very happy that the University is involved with the residency.

The creation of a position like this, by an institution with such a legacy and authority in the cultural world is an incredible advance for gaming.  We’re thrilled for Sophia.  Her appointment is very well deserved and we cannot wait to see what she comes up with.

Congratulations, Miss George…