Celia Hodent

Basic psychological phenomena like memory, perception, and emotions have huge implications for the design of products or experiences, from nutritional labels to phone apps to voting registration forms to video games. And people who study those kinds of user experiences need to be aware of some of the very basic ways that squishy human brains can be expected to operate as they set out to test and measure how people interact with their products and make sense of their media. If they don't take those things into account, they lose one of their most important guideposts to improving user experiences and helping the designers or directors of the world execute on their visions.These are the kinds of things I'll be talking about with this episode's guest expert, Dr. Celia Hodent. We will also talk about the challenges and pleasures of being a user experience consultant, and we'll even talk a little about the runaway success of Fortnite: Battle Royale.

Celia Hodent, a UX specialist with a rich background at Ubisoft and Epic Games, discusses the intersection of cognitive science and game design. She delves into balancing user experience with artistic vision, particularly in 3D action games like Fortnite. Celia reflects on her childhood in Paris, revealing how nostalgia shapes her identity and passion for gaming. The conversation highlights memories of classic titles and the evolution of player engagement, emphasizing the vital role of psychology in enhancing gameplay experiences.