Neeraj Bhandari is a game designer, UX specialist, and educator with a passion for crafting immersive digital experiences. With a Master’s in Game Development (Design) from Kingston University, London, Neeraj blends narrative depth, gameplay mechanics, and user-centered design to push the boundaries of interactive media. As a Course Leader and Lecturer at Croydon College, he has designed and delivered industry-aligned curricula in game design, animation, and UX, equipping students with real-world skills.

Neeraj’s expertise spans across game engines (Unity, Unreal Engine), 3D modeling (Blender, Autodesk Maya), and visual storytelling. His commitment to education has earned him a UK government grant for innovation in digital education, recognizing his efforts in integrating cutting-edge teaching methodologies.

Beyond academia, Neeraj has contributed as a UX designer for Pharma Plus, South Africa, optimizing healthcare interfaces for accessibility. As a freelance narrative and cinematic designer, he has collaborated on projects that fuse gameplay with compelling storytelling. His creative prowess was acknowledged at the Kingston University Game Jam 2024, where he was awarded for the most innovative game mechanic—a Lidar-scanning feature that transformed artistic exploration in gaming.

Neeraj’s passion extends beyond traditional UX roles. He has applied usability principles and player psychology as a pre-alpha playtester for AAA games, providing critical feedback on user experience, accessibility, and interaction design. He has also competed in the nationwide 24FPS competition, focusing on UX-driven storytelling and interface design. Through global game jams, Neeraj continuously refines his expertise in user research, intuitive UI development, and interactive experience design, collaborating with diverse teams to create engaging, user-centered digital experiences.

With a deep-rooted interest in cognitive psychology, usability heuristics, and emerging technologies, Neeraj continues to bridge the gap between education and industry, shaping the next generation of UX designers and interactive media professionals through human-centered design methodologies and real-world application.

"Design isn’t just what you create—it’s what you allow others to feel."

• From Walls to Worlds: Explores virtual sketching tools for neurodivergent creators, focusing on usability, accessibility, and real-time collaboration in digital art and game design.
• Environmental Storytelling in Psychological Horror: Analyzes how level design, lighting, and spatial storytelling evoke fear without exposition, using cognitive psychology and player perception.
• Architectural Design in Creating Fear: Examines how spatial design, environmental scale, and structural composition influence psychological horror, shaping player perception and emotional response.
• Research Interests
• Environmental Storytelling & Architectural Fear – Exploring how space, structure, and spatial design evoke psychological responses in horror and immersive experiences.
• UX & Accessibility in Game Design – Investigating adaptive UI, inclusive design, and cognitive load management to enhance player immersion for diverse users, including neurodivergent players.
• Interactive & Collaborative Digital Art – Examining how virtual sketching tools, real-time collaboration, and sensory-friendly interfaces can empower digital creators.
• Game Mechanics & Narrative Design – Studying the relationship between game mechanics, storytelling, and player agency to create emotionally engaging experiences.
• Cognitive Psychology & Player Perception – Understanding how human psychology, perception, and behavioral patterns influence game design, fear, and user engagement.

• Youngest Lecturer at Croydon College & Croydon University Centre Recognized as the youngest faculty member to lead game design, animation, and UX programs, contributing to academic innovation and curriculum development at an early career stage.

• UK Government Digital Education Grant Awarded for pioneering advancements in digital education, integrating UX methodologies, game accessibility, and cutting-edge teaching strategies to enhance student learning experiences.

• Innovative Game Design Award – Kingston University Game Jam 2024 Won for developing a groundbreaking Lidar-scanning gameplay mechanic, revolutionizing artistic exploration, spatial interaction, and immersive storytelling in gaming.

• )BETT London Roundtable Speaker – AI in Education Selected as a key speaker at BETT London, engaging in discussions on AI’s transformative impact on education, student engagement, and future learning methodologies.

• 24FPS National Game & Animation Excellence Award (2021, 2022, 2023) Achieved national recognition in the prestigious 24FPS competition, showcasing exceptional game mechanics, visual storytelling, and animation expertise.