I rarely look at a design problem in isolation. A great idea needs to work as a player experience first, fit the realities of production and give people a reason to care about the game in the first place.

That means zooming in and out constantly: finding what makes an experience interesting, identifying what deserves the team’s attention first, and understanding which ideas actually carry the game. Sometimes the important question isn’t how to improve a mechanic, but whether it’s the right thing to build, test or communicate right now.

Over the years, this way of thinking has grown into frameworks and tools I use in my own work, mentoring and workshops. I care about making great games – but just as much about helping teams make smart decisions while making theirs.