In March of 2025, I was lucky enough to spend some time on stage with the talented Akash Thakkar, Jess Erion, Ziyad Duran and Ryan Ike to discuss the importance of better communication in indie game studios.
The talk can be viewed in the free portion of the GDC vault website [here].
Summary:
What separates a good studio from a great one? In this panel, industry veterans Akash Thakkar, Jess Erion, Ryan Ike, Ziyad Duron, and Charlie Harper explore the deceptively complex answer to this question: communication. They demonstrate techniques for clear cross-disciplinary dialogue, avoiding jargon, and leveraging audio/visual examples for enhanced understanding. The panelists highlight the pivotal role of producers and share compelling stories of communication successes and failures. Attendees learn to build a supportive and enthusiastic studio dynamic, where motivation is high and creative spirals are a thing of the past. Through practical insights and engaging anecdotes, this panel equips developers with tools to bridge communication gaps, ultimately enhancing team collaboration and productivity. This session is essential for anyone looking to improve their project’s communication dynamics and overall efficiency.