Derrick Fields

Derrick Fields serves as an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Radio/Television/Film at Northwestern University's School of Communication. Based in Chicago, he is a digital artist and game designer dedicated to amplifying BIPOC representation in gaming and mentoring emerging creators through his initiative Waking Oni Games.

His academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Science in Animation Game Design from Kent State University.

Fields' creative scholarship centers on game design and 3D animation, with rigorous exploration of interactive media as a vehicle for social change. He critically examines how emerging entertainment technologies can foster inclusive representation for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, advocating for games to drive education and industry disruption through authentic narratives.

His impactful contributions have earned recognition through prestigious industry awards:

• Game Awards Future Class 2020
• Game Devs of Color Scholar 2020
• PlayNYC Graffiti Games Scholar 2020

In his academic capacity, Fields integrates professional expertise as former lead artist for Roblox's "Adopt Me" and BAFTA-nominated "Manifold Garden" into curriculum development. He actively shapes discourse through conference panels and academic speaking engagements focused on gaming's evolving landscape.

Through Waking Oni Games, Fields cultivates collaborative pipelines for underrepresented talent, identifying future trends while building sustainable frameworks for diverse creator empowerment in interactive entertainment.