Meet lislis
Hey Lis, do you remember when we met? I remember seeing you at a conference and having a long conversation together but not sure if that was the first time? I think it was at CCC in Leipzig perhaps?
We definitely met at CCC in Leipzig, I think across from a crepe stand. But I’m not sure if that was the first time? I definitely already knew who you were, but maybe you met me for the first time? It was so long ago!
You’ve always been such a lovely human, always smiling and caring, thoughtful, fun. Needless to say, I’m excited for your game program this July! Haha.
Aww, that’s so sweet! Thanks! I’m super excited to finally be teaching a class!
Images from our first games program Winners and Losers questioning game play dynamics in 2018 in which instructor lis was a participant.
You took part in a Winners and Losers games workshop with Niklas Roy and Kati Hyppa and made that super cool game where you had to blow and blow until the flying pig got close to the sun. Lol. Piggarus! Do you remember how that game idea came about? In general, what’s been your personal experience and approach with games?
I loved that class so much! It was my intro to electronics and I’ve only fallen deeper into the rabbit hole since!
lis preparing electronics for games in Winners and Losers, 2018.
As for Piggarus, the idea started with the pig toy from Niklas’ and Kati’s basement. It was super cheap, all plastic with these flimsy wings that were battery powered. It was also cute and I really wanted to make the idea of a flying pig a reality! From there I thought about how to best help a pig fly and blowing wind into the wings seemed like a logical choice. For me at least. So that became the mechanic. As for motivation, where would a pig fly to? Somehow the Icarus story came to mind so we built a sun that piggarus should reach. I hoped people would question if helping the pig burn in the sun is a cause worth supporting, but the blowing mechanic had people so hooked, I think nobody questioned it. Hahaha.
Lis designing game mechanics in Winners and Losers, 2018.
But that’s usually how I approached games in the past. Something catches my attention and I try to think of a mechanic to turn it into a game. For example when I first saw the music video to Beyonce’s Hold up, I had to make a game where you walk around in a yellow dress and smash things with a baseball bat. That was a purely digital game though.
Piggarus, the pig flying towards the sun coming to life in Winners and Losers, 2018
Have you always been a game player? What was your transition like to game maker?
I’ve been into games since the original Pokemon for the Gameboy Color, I was absolutely addicted and my parents didn’t know what to do about it. Kinda like parents today, lol. The gamechanger was when my cousin didn’t want his Playstation anymore (or he got a Playstation 2, can’t remember) and I inherited it! Including Final Fantasy 7! Still a big fan of the franchise and JRPGs until today!
I ended up going into web and software development until I realized: I can program, and video games are programmed, so I can make games?! Thunder crashing, evil scientist laughter. It wasn’t quite as straight forward though. Next to just the code there are visuals, sound, the story and the mechanics and so on. Basically everything I want to teach in this class!
Lis designing an alt controller for a water pump based game in collaboration with Madhumita Nandi, 2026
For many years games were my creative and more satisfying outlet next to my day job as a developer. I’d hang out at various game jams to enjoy quick prototyping, being creative and silly and working together with random strangers. Now I’m transitioning over to become a full time artist with games and interactive installation as the main focus of my practice. So, let’s see how that goes.
Lis has been teaching cool workshops at School of Machines, a most recent one was teaching live-coding with Sprüdel during transmediale vorspiel.
What are you most excited for in this class?
Basically sharing everything I’ve learned over the past twelve or so years in a condensed form! Besides accumulating a bunch of technical skills, I’ve also been involved with various feminist initiatives and also became a member of the feminist hackspace Heart of Code here in Berlin.
It always made me furious that for women and gender minorities tech has either been out of reach or become downright threatening. Just playing or having fun with technology is so far removed from some realities, it’s just sad and unjust.
And I think in this class I also want to bring these two sides together: appropriating tech, exploring it, being silly and playful but also figure out how we can approach the touch topics of our times. Anti-feminism is a foundational factor in big tech fascism and the global move towards the right. How do these systems and mechanics work so seamlessly? How and where can we throw the wrench into the cogs?
Lis has been designing memory based games for multiple players that are fun and addictive, 2026.
How do you make space for continually growing as an artist as an integral part of your life?
That’s a good question. For me I think it’s only possible because my wife’s got my back and supports me and calls me out on my delusions. That gives me security and a reality-check. Super valuable! Then I try to branch out a lot, go to events, conferences and so on. Also ones that don’t relate to my work immediately, or political or activist causes.
I went to the Berlin MusicTech Meetup last year, for people who make software/ hardware around making music. It was a special edition around 360 degree sound. It was super interesting, because I’m very much used to thinking in stereo but there is so much more to explore there! Like everywhere! These things give me a lot of perspective and inspiration and prevent me from being stuck in my little corner.
Results from the Sprüdel workshop during participant show and tell, 2026.
Creating Alt Ctrl Games as Feminist Practice is a four-week intensive game design program runs July 6–31, Berlin. A few spots left.
Come join us in Berlin this summer! https://www.schoolofma.org/summer-2026/creating-alt-ctrl-as-feminist-art-practice
Women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and others from under-represented communities in art and tech highly encouraged to apply!
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