From bricks to pixels: get to know Marcel Casarini’s game-changing journey

April 30, 2025 by biancablati

From bricks to pixels: get to know Marcel Casarini’s game-changing journey

Featuring: Marcel Casarini – Assistant Professor of Media Arts

From Sao Paulo (Brazil) to Vancouver, Marcel Casarini has always been a designer at heart. First, he shaped buildings and urban landscapes as an architect. Now, he crafts immersive worlds and guides the next generation of game designers to do the same.

Marcel’s path wasn’t the straightest route to game development. With a master’s degree in Architecture and Level Design for Games, Marcel seamlessly merged his architectural knowledge with his passion for play. His curiosity for how people interact with spaces translated beautifully into game environments, and before long, he was co-founding game studios, winning awards, and even penning his own book on the art of level design.

As an Assistant Professor in the School of Creative Arts at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), Marcel continues to shape worlds: both digital and human. In the classroom, he inspires his students to think critically, explore fearlessly, and never stop learning. With each new semester, he watches game enthusiasts being ready to leave their mark on the industry.

In this conversation, Marcel shares insights from his journey, his philosophy as an educator, and the advice he hopes will resonate long after the last class ends.

College of Arts: Could you share a bit about your journey as an educator?

Marcel: Since my university days, I’ve always been involved in teaching in some way — whether as a Teaching Assistant or through research groups. But my formal teaching career truly began after I completed my Master’s degree. I started as a full-time professor in a Game Development program back in 2014, still in Brazil, which is where I’m originally from.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to teach across different areas: Architecture, Games, and Media Arts. It’s been a wonderful, varied experience. In 2018, I moved to Vancouver with my wife, and soon after, I began teaching at LaSalle College. I even had the chance to serve as the Program Director for Game Design, Game Programming, and Audio programs there, which was incredibly rewarding.

Since 2023, I’ve been teaching at UFV in the Media Arts program, focusing on courses that really excite me: Unreal Engine, Digital Imaging, and Virtual Reality development. I love working directly with students, watching them grow, and seeing their creativity come to life.

CoA: What first inspired you to specialize in game development and design?

Marcel: That’s a great question! Honestly, my love for games goes way back. My very first gaming memory is with the Atari 2600, around 1990. From that moment, I was hooked — fascinated by the way games could transport you to other worlds.

However, when it came time to choose a career path, the gaming industry in Brazil wasn’t really established yet. So, I chose Architecture and Urban Planning. It seemed like the closest way to design and build experiences, just in a different form.

A few years into working as an architect on construction sites, I felt this pull toward games that never went away. I decided to take a leap of faith. I pursued a postgraduate program and a Master’s degree focused on merging my architectural knowledge with game design. From then on, there was no looking back. I’ve been working with games ever since — and I truly love it!

CoA: What do you hope your students take away from your classes?

Marcel: More than anything, I hope they develop critical thinking, curiosity, and a strong methodology for lifelong learning.

The game development field is constantly evolving. New software, hardware, and tools are emerging all the time. If you’re not curious and adaptable, you risk falling behind. So I try to instill in my students not just the technical skills they need today, but the mindset to keep growing, adapting, and enjoying the learning process throughout their careers.

It’s not just about mastering one engine or technique — it’s about understanding how to learn effectively and stay curious about what’s coming next.

CoA: Reflecting on your career so far, what has been the most rewarding aspect of being an educator?

Marcel: There’s honestly nothing like seeing the evolution of my students.

At the start of a course, many students come in as game enthusiasts — they love to play, but they haven’t yet seen behind the curtain of game development. By the end of the semester, I watch them transform into budding developers. Their conversations change; they start talking about mechanics, narratives, player experience, and design philosophies. They see games through a whole new lens.

Every semester feels like a new adventure. Watching that growth — from curiosity to capability — is the most rewarding part of my job.

CoA: If you could leave a lasting message or piece of advice for your students and community, what would it be?

Marcel: Learning is a lifelong commitment — and it should absolutely be fun!

As humans, we naturally play to understand our world, our environment, and our social contexts. Learning shouldn’t feel like a chore; it should feel like exploration. Stay curious, stay playful, and never stop seeking out new knowledge. Whether it’s through games or life itself, embrace the joy of discovery.

Marcel Casarini’s journey is a powerful reminder that our paths are rarely linear — but with passion, curiosity, and an openness to change, we can build bridges between our interests and our careers. Whether in architecture, game design, or the classroom, Marcel continues to shape the spaces where creativity thrives. And for his students, the adventure is just beginning.

Designing with heart and purpose: meet Marcia Higuchi

April 16, 2025 by biancablati

Designing with heart and purpose: meet Marcia Higuchi

Featuring: Marcia Higuchi – Assistant Professor, Graphic and Digital Design

In the dynamic world of design, where visuals speak louder than words and ideas come to life through form and function, Marcia Higuchi has spent over 15 years shaping stories across brands, campaigns, and experiences. From bustling design studios and agencies to the thoughtful spaces of higher education, Marcia’s journey is one of curiosity, passion, and a deep belief in the power of collaboration.

Originally from Brazil, Marcia believes that design is a powerful tool for reflection, for raising consciousness, and for creating change. Her passion is not only in the pixels and palettes, but in helping her students discover their own voices, identities, and creative power.

As an Assistant Professor in Graphic and Digital Design at the University of the Fraser Valley, Marcia continues to inspire emerging designers to see beyond the screen — to design with intention, to invite collaboration, and to understand the impact their work can have in the world. Get to know Marcia:

College of Arts: Could you start by sharing a bit about your journey as an educator?

Marcia: Absolutely! My path into education really began during my Master of Design program at ECU. My research there focused on critical pedagogy and relational learning, which sparked my curiosity about educational practices and how we engage with knowledge.

During those years, I was fortunate to take on several teaching roles — first as a Teaching Assistant, then as a Teaching Fellow, and eventually as a sessional faculty member in the Communication Design department. These experiences deepened my passion for teaching and for learning alongside my students.

I started at UFV in August 2024, and it has been such a wonderful journey so far. I’m really enjoying getting to know our local community, learning from our students, and being inspired every day by my generous and talented colleagues.

CoA: What inspired you to specialize in your field of design?

Marcia: There’s a moment that stands out very clearly for me. I was auditing a postgraduate class at the University of São Paulo when I first read Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. His words resonated deeply and sparked a lasting curiosity about how his philosophies could inform my own collaborative practices in design.

Alongside Freire, I also draw inspiration from bell hooks, whose work expands our understanding of pedagogy and liberation, and Ailton Krenak, a Brazilian Indigenous philosopher. His perspectives bring non-anthropocentric lenses into my thinking, reminding me that design should not just serve humans, but consider our broader ecological relationships as well.

Together, these thinkers have deeply influenced how I approach both design and education — as spaces of dialogue, awareness, and transformative action.

CoA: What do you hope your students take away from your classes?

Marcia: One of the most important concepts I hope to share is something Freire described as “conscientização”, or the development of a critical consciousness.

I want my students to recognize their identities, their positions in the world, and the dynamics of oppression and privilege that shape our realities. By becoming more aware of their capacities and possibilities, they can act upon their situations with intention and responsibility.

I also hope they learn from one another. Peer learning is so valuable — it helps broaden perspectives and fosters a deeper understanding of design’s potential to engage with real-world issues.

CoA: Reflecting on your career so far, what has been the most rewarding aspect of being an educator?

Marcia: Without a doubt, it’s seeing my students come to understand their role as designers and future makers.

There’s this beautiful moment when they realize that design isn’t just about creating something visually appealing — it’s a tool for communication, for education, for celebration, and for sparking meaningful conversations about complex issues.

When they take pride in their work and see its potential impact, it’s incredibly rewarding. Watching them grow into thoughtful, conscious designers is the best part of what I do.

CoA: If you could leave a lasting message or piece of advice for your students and community, what would it be?

Marcia: Bring your whole self into your work, and always remain open to collaboration.

Collaboration creates opportunities to see things differently, to challenge your assumptions, and to grow in unexpected ways. It invites diversity of thought and enriches the creative process. Design is not a solitary pursuit — it thrives in community, in dialogue, and in shared experiences.

So be brave, be curious, and don’t hesitate to invite others into your creative journey.

Marcia Higuchi’s story is a vivid reminder that design is much more than visuals — it’s about values, voices, and vision. Through her dedication to education and her thoughtful approach to design, she empowers her students to see their work as a catalyst for change. With every lesson and every collaborative project, Marcia is helping to shape not only the next generation of designers, but also thoughtful citizens of the world.

Championing Indigenous communication and empowering student voices

March 13, 2025 by biancablati

Championing Indigenous communication and empowering student voices

In January 2025, Dr. Kelsey Blair joined the UFV School of Communication as the new Assistant Professor – Indigenous Communication Specialist. Welcome, Dr. Blair!

Dr. Blair brings a passion for the transformative power of communication—whether it’s connecting communities, sharing stories, teaching, or challenging power structures. Her dedication to fostering meaningful conversations and learning opportunities is truly inspiring.

Get to Know Dr. Kelsey Blair:

What inspired you to specialize in Indigenous Communication?
I am passionate about communication and its various potentials: to teach, entertain, connect, share stories, and resist power imbalances. These potentials come alive in Indigenous Communication, allowing us to learn, connect, and share alongside Indigenous people and communities.

What do you hope students take away from your classes?
I hope my students feel inspired to reflect critically on themselves, their surroundings, and their communities. Most importantly, I want them to feel empowered to communicate confidently across various settings.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?
As an educator, the most rewarding aspect has been supporting students on their learning journeys—whether that means introducing them to new ideas or helping them develop new skills.

We are excited about the knowledge and passion Dr. Blair brings to our community. It’s great to have her on UFV’s team!