Session Zero: A Character Design Workshop

Event Details

• Friday, October 2, 2026
  9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Trent University
  Building: Bata Library
  Room: BL 202

Using storytelling prompt decks, worldbuilding exercises, and creative writing games, this drop-in hands-on workshop invites you to invent characters, chart their motivations, and explore the worlds they belong to. Join hosts Dr. Derek Newman Still (Instructor, Trent University) and Alida van der Vlag (4th-year Cultural Studies/Gender & Social Justice student) in Room BL 202, Elaine Stavro Reading Room, Bata Library, for an inspiring day of character creation and worldbuilding activities! 

This is an all-day drop-in event, and participants are welcome to stop by any time between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Held in a low-pressure, accessible environment, the event is open to all students and community members. No experience is necessary, all supplies are provided, and light refreshments will be available.

Please visit the companion exhibit, Playing with Imagination, curated by Alida van der Vlag and on display in the Bata Library Display Case and Atrium from September 27 to October 10. The exhibit features books on gaming history, culture, and design, alongside board games and tabletop RPG guides that put the power of storytelling in your hands. In partnership with the Odette Critical Making Studio, 3D-printed character minis bring the display to life. Roll the d20, chart your character's fate, and pin your story to our fantasy map. In this world, the possibilities are endless.

Contact Info

Alida van der Vlag: avandervlag@trentu.ca