I am available for solo guest speaking, guest lectures, and educational workshops, and I have a particular interest in arts festivals and game design education. Whether providing a career overview or a deep dive into specific aspects of design, I aim to provide an engaging look at the industry for both gaming fans and the next generation of makers.
For booking enquiries regarding appearance fees and availability, please get in touch via email info@simonphipps.com, my Contact Form or Social Media (Facebook, X, Instagram).
Since I first put this website together back in 2003, I have been blessed with kind words from folk reaching out to share stories of playing the games I worked on. It has been a wonderful gift, as I never imagined people would remember these titles, let alone collect and treasure them decades later.
Following on from this, I was only too happy to contribute to magazine, website, and podcast interviews. Over the years, I have also had the privilege of being invited to appear at various conventions, colleges, and arts festivals. However, while working full-time in the industry, I never felt entirely comfortable doing so. I was always cautious of leaning too heavily on work from the 80s, and I never wanted to be in a position of presiding over panels or reunions as if I were a final authority on the past. My focus was always firmly on the project currently on my desk and the road ahead.
That said, in 2023, the creators of the Nottingham Videogame Expo convinced me to attend as a guest speaker. The experience was a delightful one, and it changed how I look at the legacy of these old games and the joy they have put out into the world.
More recently, this has evolved into my wife Jayne and I occasionally running a signing table. I can display original design drawings, showcase physical props, and spend the day doing live painting demonstrations, while we both get to chat with folk about what a career in the games industry is really like. In 2024, this developed further when I spoke to students at Confetti College in Nottingham and taught a short course on game design through the medium of cosplay (which is documented in this playlist on my YouTube channel).
Whether it is helping to rekindle old memories or inspiring the next generation of makers (while reassuring anxious parents that “yes, it is a proper job”), this journey into speaking and education is a new aspect of life that I am happy to carry forward.
Booking Information
If you are interested in inviting me to an event, please get in touch. I am happy to speak on specific aspects of design if more than a general career overview is required, and I am particularly interested in off-beat events such as arts festivals and education.
Please note: * I generally prefer solo speaking engagements or workshops over panel discussions or reunion events.
As these appearances take me away from my studio work, I do require a daily appearance fee in addition to the coverage of my travel and accommodation expenses.
I am always happy to host my signing table and art display free of charge for any event I am attending as a guest.