Designing for Play: Building Games That Bring People Together

In this episode of Practical Product Management, hosts Leah Farmer and Marilyn McDonald sit down with Sunny Lee, Experience Design Director at EA’s Full Circle Studio, to explore the intersection of design, empathy, and play.

Sunny’s career spans from building AAA games at EA Sports to shaping purpose-driven experiences in health tech — and back again to lead design for Skate, EA’s newly relaunched open-world game. She shares how thoughtful design can empower players, foster inclusion, and build real human connection in digital spaces.

The conversation moves from the craft of experience design to the ethics of monetization, from diversity in game culture to the importance of making failure fun. Whether you’re building software or skate parks, this episode is a reminder that great design — like great leadership — is about creating sp ...