Peter McDonald

Peter McDonald is an Assistant Professor of Design, Creative, and Informal Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Education. He holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Chicago (2018), an MA from Simon Fraser University (2010), and a BA from the University of British Columbia (2009).

His research focuses on play and playful behavior as meaning-making activities, emphasizing design practices for critical engagement and historical contexts of playfulness. Key interests include play theory, media theory, feminist/queer methodologies, design research, and hermeneutics. He employs practice-based design research to create and analyze experimental play forms like alternate reality games, augmented reality games, and roleplaying games.

Publications span play theory, media philosophy, and game studies, with recent works addressing AI ethics in education, platformer game semiotics, and interdisciplinary game studies discourse. His work bridges humanities scholarship with innovative game design, emphasizing cultural and pedagogical implications.

No scientific awards are listed in the provided materials. Advising and grants sections remain underdeveloped in the text. McDonald’s work is closely tied to labs or teams focused on experimental game design and media studies, though specific affiliations are not detailed.