Sebastian Deterding

Sebastian Deterding is a prominent figure in the fields of design engineering, gamification, and user experience (UX). He currently holds the position of Chair in Design Engineering at Imperial College London. Sebastian is best known for his pioneering work on gamification – the use of game design elements in non-game contexts to boost engagement and motivation. His influence in this area extends through his co-editorship of the highly regarded book "The Gameful World" which explores how gaming elements can be integrated into various aspects of society.

Throughout his career, Sebastian has combined his academic research with practical applications. He has worked as a designer and researcher for high-profile clients like the BBC, BMW, and Greenpeace, contributing to innovative projects that fuse motivational design with digital experiences. His research emphasises the ethics of design and how digital systems shape human behaviour, with a particular focus on promoting eudaimonia—human flourishing—through technology. He is also the co-editor of The Routledge Handbook of Role-Playing Game Studies. 

Sebastian's background is rooted in media studies and communication, earning a Ph.D. in Media Studies from Hamburg University. He also possesses an MA in Communication Science & Comparative Literature at the University of Munster. After serving as a Researcher at Utrecht University, Sebastian joined Gruner + Jahr as a UX Designer. His early experiences in game design were influenced by a rich German board game-playing culture and his role-playing game involvement, which developed his skills in storytelling, rules design, and narrative construction.

He has held academic positions at various institutions, including the University of York, where he served as Chair of Digital Creativity, and Northeastern University. He also frequently keynotes at international conferences like GDC, and UX London, sharing his expertise on gameful design and digital creativity. His TED talk “What Your Designs Say About You” exemplifies his excellence as a speaker. When hired to speak at events, Sebastian touches on subjects such as strategy, product design, user experience design and engineering. If you are looking for an internationally sought-after keynote speaker to address your audience, Sebastian Deterding is a great choice for you!