Where Game Design Passion Meets Real Skill

We started DataDevWave because we saw too many talented people stuck in the gap between wanting to create games and actually knowing how. Not the usual online course story, though. This came from years of watching students struggle with disconnected tutorials and vague advice.

Students collaborating on mobile game interface designs during workshop session

The Beginning Started With One Question

Back in 2023, a small group of game designers kept running into the same wall. People loved games. They wanted to build them. But most programs either taught theory without practice or threw students into complex engines without foundation.

So we built something different. Started with twelve students in a borrowed office space, teaching mobile UI design the way we learned it ourselves—through messy projects, real critique, and doing the work.

What made it click? We stopped pretending every student needed the same path. Some folks came from graphic design. Others were self-taught coders. A few just really loved games and wanted to understand how they worked.

By mid-2024, we had something that actually worked. Not perfect, but functional. Students were building portfolios that landed them interviews. That's when we knew this could be more than a side project.

What We Actually Teach

Three core areas that form the foundation of mobile game UI design

Close-up of mobile game interface elements being designed on tablet

Interface Architecture

How game menus actually flow. Why some buttons feel right and others don't. The technical side of making screens that work on different devices without breaking.

Digital sketches and wireframes for mobile game navigation systems

Visual Systems Design

Building consistent styles that scale. Creating icons and elements that read clearly on small screens. Understanding when to break your own rules for better gameplay.

Testing mobile game UI prototypes on various smartphone devices

Player Experience Testing

Getting feedback that matters. Running quick tests without massive budgets. Learning to spot problems before they become expensive mistakes in production.

Who Runs This Place

Two people who've made plenty of mistakes so you don't have to

Portrait of Einar Thorvaldsen, lead instructor at DataDevWave

Einar Thorvaldsen

Lead Instructor

Spent eight years designing interfaces for casual mobile games before realizing teaching was more interesting. Still codes occasionally when students ask hard questions. Lives in Canberra and bikes to work most days.

Portrait of Brigid Calloway, program coordinator at DataDevWave

Brigid Calloway

Program Coordinator

Handles everything that keeps courses running smoothly. Former project manager at a mid-sized studio who got tired of crunches. Knows more about scheduling and student support than anyone should reasonably need to.