Concept to Creation
Brainstorm and develop your own original game idea from scratch — leave pre-planned concepts at the door.
Build the World
Design every element: board, pieces, cards, typography, and packaging with clarity and strategy.
Pitch & Playtest
Learn the ins and outs of production and publishing from a guest expert at Kickstarter’s game division, and walk away with a ready-to-launch prototype.
About the course
This hands-on course blends design, storytelling, and strategy in a way no other creative class does. Whether you join solo or as part of a creative duo, you’ll learn how to brainstorm, develop, and produce a fully functional board game from the ground up. By the end, you’ll have a physical prototype and a deep understanding of how concept, collaboration, and play come together to create unforgettable experiences. **This is a LEVEL 3 CLASS: It is required that you work as a Designer/Illustrator or Art Director and are proficient in the following: Adobe Creative Suite, Design/Illustration. If you would like to take this class as a GD/CW or AD/CW team, please contact us for a pricing break per team member.
Your Instructor
Hi, I’m Colleen Finn — a designer, illustrator, and creative educator who’s passionate about concept-driven design. This class is a true passion and I've been teaching it for over a decade. Board games combine everything I love: strategy, storytelling, and tangible creativity. In this course, I’ll guide you from blank page to finished prototype while helping you think like both a designer and a player.
What people are saying
Hear from past students who turned ideas into playable experiences — and rediscovered the fun of creative collaboration along the way.
Colleen’s board games class teaches so many skills a graphic designer needs: telling compelling stories, building impactful identity, crafting engaging experiences, and applying it all across diverse media. It’s a challenge that directs everything you’ve learned about design toward a fun, fulfilling project.
Product Designer, Brooklyn NY
Board Games class is amazing. It's a chance to create something unique, from concept to execution. You get to think strategically, bring ideas to life with design, and collaborate with writers to create a whole world sprung from your imagination. It's an expression of every aspect of the creative process.
Designer/Art Director, Amesbury ME
Ready Player You?
Enrollment for Winter 2026 opens November 1. Space is limited to 6 creatives (or teams)— reserve your spot and start designing a game that players won’t forget.
$2,400.00