Ricardo Miguel Ferreira

across the development process, from the initial concept and core mechanics to prototyping, testing, balancing and refinement. His approach combines creative exploration with a strong focus on clarity, interaction and the overall player experience. As a long-time TCG enthusiast and former Magic: The Gathering event organizer, he has developed a particular interest in game balance, testing methodologies and competitive integrity, with playtesting playing a central role in his design process. Alongside his work as a designer, Ricardo has been actively involved in the board game community through the creation, promotion and development of projects, events and initiatives that connect games with wider audiences. He is President and Creative Director of Artmatriz Cultural Association and has been involved in projects such as VianaCon and Viana Joga Forte, helping build communities around board games and creating visual identities and communication for gaming events and projects. His professional background extends well beyond the games industry, bringing more than 20 years of experience in graphic design, visual communication and creative development. He has worked across fashion, branding, print, packaging and cultural projects, including collaborations with international companies and brands such as Inditex, Next, Tommy Hilfiger and Versace. This multidisciplinary background is an important part of Ricardo's approach to game design. Experience in different creative industries has given him a broad understanding of visual communication, product development, audience engagement and how people interact with designed experiences. He brings these perspectives into board games, looking at them not only as systems to be played, but also as products and experiences that need to communicate, engage and create memorable moments. For Ricardo, game design sits at the intersection of mechanics, creativity, communication and people — with playtesting and the player experience at the centre of the process.