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Accessible Design in Gaming Internship
Job summary:
Open the Gates Gaming is a research collective, focusing on increasing access in gaming, with industry and community partnerships. We work with tabletop games, video games, and trading card games, and our team has backgrounds in music, theater, web design, computer science, and other fields. This position will primarily focus on graphic design and especially layout, largely using Adobe InDesign. The position may also incorporate full-stack web development, especially front-end web design, with the possibility also of engaging in product development and prototyping using 3d printing. The position will be primarily supervised by Dr. Christopher Campo-Bowen, with additional feedback being provided by co-PIs and collaborators for the project. This position is hybrid, with regular in-person meetings and work sessions with the option of independent remote work. Any questions should be addressed to Dr. Campo-Bowen, ccb20@vt.edu; also feel free to check out our website at openthegatesgaming.org.
Job duties:
- Work with the OtG team to create fully integrated graphics layouts in Adobe InDesign based on preexisting designs
- Work with the OtG team to create component libraries for further graphic design work
- Following accessibility and design guidelines as outlined by supervisor and collaborators
- Adjust designs as instructed
- Strengthen OtG brand clarity and reach through web design
Required qualifications:
- Full-time student at Virginia Tech with federal work-study
- Demonstrated experience with graphic design, layout, and Adobe InDesign
- Previous experience fulfilling projects on a timeline
- Ability to work independently without supervision
- Excellent communication skills
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with full-stack web development
- Familiarity with 3d printing design and prototyping
- Experience with Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition
- Understanding of different cognitive and physical access needs
- Demonstrated experience with digital accessibility and/or disability community work
- Experience working as part of a team
Starting pay: $13/hour
Areas of Competency Development:
- Accessible design & product development
- Digital infrastructure
- Adaptive gaming
- Public speaking
- Writing skills
Perks:
- Work revolves around tabletop roleplaying and video games
- Regular livestreaming opportunities
- Potential travel to major industry conventions like PAX Unplugged
Work hours as determined by students. Expectation is 10 hours per week at $13/hour. Anticipated start date: August 10, 2026. Anticipated end date: May 14, 2027.
We are a team-oriented organization, with multiple members across campus and at other institutions, both domestic and internationally, and multiple areas of disciplinary and technical expertise. Dress code and team dynamics are generally relaxed, but we expect that student members will be capable of independent work and timely communication. The team has been able to attend major gaming industry conventions like PAX East and PAX Unplugged in recent years with options for student participation. Open the Gates Gaming also runs weekly livestreams on Twitch that range from discussion of game mechanics and accessibility to actual play of different tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs).
The supervisor is creative and invested in student success, and is especially motivated to help with professional development in the areas of writing and public speaking. The supervisor, along with the whole rest of the team, is also an avid video and especially tabletop gamer.
Significant opportunities for public speaking and networking at major gaming industry conventions.