Students from The Stu/dio, the University of Illinois student-led game production studio, are preparing to take the stage at MDEV 2025, which will be held on November 7-8 in Madison, Wisconsin. One of the Midwest's most popular game industry conferences, MDEV celebrates innovation and collaboration in game development by bringing together game designers, developers, and enthusiasts from across the region for panels, workshops, and networking.
This year, the Stu/dio's production team will host a panel titled "A Panel Discussion of The Stu/dio: Contributions, Focus Areas, and Challenges in University Student-Driven Game Production," which will be moderated by Daniel Cermak, instructor and director of The Stu/dio. Their panel will highlight how students build real-world experience through collaborative production and creative problem-solving.
"The Stu/dio's work-for-hire model is just a part of the experiential learning we want to share," Cermak explained. "Participation in conferences is an important extension of the studio experience. These events allow the students to showcase their amazing work and foster their professional growth, building confidence and key skills."
For students, MDEV represents an opportunity to share their work while learning from professionals and peers in the industry.
"I'm really looking forward to MDEV because it's one of those rare moments where students like us can share what we've been building, learn from others, and see how different teams approach similar challenges," said Sepehr Vaez Afshar, associate producer and XR lead. "It's exciting to be part of that creative exchange and to represent our studio's XR work among so many passionate developers."
Sarvin Eshagi, associate producer and quality assurance lead in The Stu/dio, emphasized the value of bringing student-driven work into professional spaces.
"What I’m most looking forward to at MDEV is meeting others who, like us, believe that games can do more than entertain; they can teach, connect, and inspire. Being able to share what we’ve built in The Stu/dio feels like joining a much larger dialogue about how games shape learning and community." she said.
Olivia Wang, associate producer and accessibility lead, is looking forward to connecting with the broader game development community, both to share The Stu/dio's work and learn about other developers' approaches to games. Wang will also be a solo speaker at MDEV, presenting "The Best Games Are Made By All of Us."
"When I heard that MDEV had an open call for speakers, especially those in the style of TED talks, I immediately felt drawn to the opportunity," said Wang. "I've had such a great time being involved in the game development community at the University of Illinois, and I want more people to share in the joy of creating impactful games. I hope my talk will inspire others to pursue or continue pursuing game development, especially those who are nervous about whether they belong in game design."
As The Stu/dio prepares for MDEV, the excitement is clear. For these students, it's more than just attending a conference. It is an opportunity to connect with the broader creative community while sharing their progress and gaining the insight that comes from representing their work on a professional stage.