Designing cognitively efficient debugging interfaces for game production teams

Video game development involves complex debugging and quality assurance processes that require teams to analyze large amounts of technical information under tight deadlines. Developers and testers often rely on multiple disconnected tools, making it difficult to quickly identify problems, prioritize fixes, and make informed decisions. This can increase cognitive workload, slow down production, and affect team efficiency.
This project aims to support the development of an intelligent debugging dashboard designed to help game development teams better supervise and resolve technical issues. Using a human-centered and prospective ergonomics approach, the project will involve professionals from the video game industry in creative workshops to imagine future debugging workflows and identify unmet needs. These insights will be used to design innovative interface concepts that better integrate information and support decision-making.
The proposed designs will then be validated using cognitive workload measures to assess how effectively they reduce mental effort and improve usability during realistic debugging tasks. By combining future-oriented exploration with evidence-based evaluation, the project will help the partner organization develop a more efficient, user-friendly tool.
Overall, the project contributes to innovation in digital tools, improves productivity in game development, and supports the training of highly qualified talent in Canada.

Faculty Supervisor:

Alexandra Nemery

Student:

Partner:

LocusX

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Information and cultural industries

University:

École de technologie supérieure

Program: