Katherine studied BA (Hons) New Media Production, graduating in 2003. A creative designer and producer in her own right, she is the Co-founder of State of Play, a company that creates video games.
Established in 2008, State of Play’s work has won numerous international awards including a BAFTA for Artistic Achievement for their handmade puzzle adventure game, ‘Lumino City’, and an Apple Design Award for their iOS game, ‘INKS’ .
They also made the puzzle game ‘KAMI’ and its BAFTA nominated sequel, ‘KAMI 2’. Their critically-acclaimed game, ‘South of the Circle’ – which the team made in Antarctica – was nominated for an Apple Design Award.
Katherine has been a pioneering member of Ukie (UK Interactive Entertainment) Board of Directors and sits on the BAFTA Games Committee, representing the game industry and specifically, women and their role within it. She is also on the Advisory Board of the National Film and Television School.
Katherine uses her knowledge to help others grow in the industry and continues to be generous with her time and expertise. The judge’s commented that they acknowledged how difficult it can be for women to succeed in Katherine’s industry, but that through her passion and determination, she has become a great advocate. They also acknowledged what a fantastic achievement it was to be a co-founder of a business achieving BAFTA awards in the industry.
Katherine said, “I’m delighted to have won the Advanced Learning Award; the video games industry is a tough one to survive and thrive in, so it’s very special to be recognised in this way.”
“My time at BU was a crucial first step in shaping the direction of my career. It also gave a valuable insight into the dynamics of working in a team and developing my craft. Many of the people I met on my degree course I have worked with since graduating and still work with some to this day.”
“If I could pass on any advice to current students, it would be to nurture the relationships with people you work best with, as they may be useful in the future.”