Rafael Fajardo: Reflective Play: Exploring the Creation of Games & Toys to Raise Consciousness & Stimulate Thinking February 6, 2008

Part of OCAD's Faculty of Design Speaker Series.

Wed., Feb. 6, 2008, 6:30 pm
Rafael Fajardo
“Reflective Play: Exploring the Creation of Games and Toys to Raise Consciousness and Stimulate Thinking”

Rafael Fajardo is the founder of SWEAT, a loose collaborative that makes socially conscious video games. SWEAT has published two video games, Crosser and La Migra, that comment on the game-like nature of (il)legal human traffic at the US/Mexico border. SWEAT is currently working on a game, set in Colombia, which explores the effects of the culture of drug agriculture. This game, Juan & the Beanstalk, has been released as playable fragments. SWEAT’s games have been exhibited internationally. Fajardo also teaches at the University of Denver where he is an associate professor of Electronic Media Arts Design and the Director of Digital Media Studies. With his colleague Scott Leutenegger he has overseen the creation of Squeezed, a videogame, co-sponsored by mtvU that comments on the lives of (im)migrant farm workers in the US. With Dr. Leutenegger and with Dr. Debra Austin he has received a multi-year grant from the National Science Foundation to explore the teaching of videogames as a holistic pedagogy in high schools.

Presented with the generous support of M.C. McCain.

All are welcome to attend, and admission is free. This presentation takes place in the OCAD Auditorium at 100 McCaul Street, Toronto. Limited seating available; guests are advised to arrive early.

Ontario College of Art & Design
100 McCaul Street, Toronto
www.ocad.ca | 416-977-6000

Official Website: http://www.ocad.ca