I am Austin J. Reitz, a multidisciplinary creative whose work includes illustration, graphic design, typeface design, and design research in interaction and ludic design. My interests are in the intersection of human needs and the ability of interactive designed systems to fulfill them, particularly systems that are not often considered as such, e.g. tabletop roleplaying games. My research covers the designed nature of tabletop roleplaying games through an interaction design lens, particularly in regard to how designed systems facilitate player behavior, how creative agendas are met (or not met) by designed systems, and the relationship between ruleset and genre. My passion for design research first arose during my undergraduate career, studying Visual Communication Design at Kent State University. I graduated with my BFA in May 2019. During this time, I completed my Honors Thesis, Realms of Màgia: Exploring Roleplaying Games as Interaction Design Systems, and have been pursuing design research ever since.
When not conducting research, I work as both a freelance designer and game master, all while serving as one of AIGA Cleveland's Community Meeting Co-Chairs. In this role, I plan and lead monthly meetings to serve the needs of Cleveland's creative community. These meetings have taken a myriad of forms throughout my time as Co-Chair, but one element is constant: they center the people of our community, their diverse experiences, and their safety. Past events have been design jams, mixers, technique demos, professional panels, showcases of creative opportunities, and more. I prioritize accessibility, advocate for virtual and hybrid events, and approach each event with the goal of safety, especially given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. My research skills are in use in this role as well, as I conduct yearly event analyses to best prepare the chapter for the future.
Whether it be in research, work, or service, my practice is focused on the needs of people. I guarantee that I will bring this precise emphasis to every single one of my future endeavors as well.