Theresa Duringer — UI as Game Design, Onboarding Without Friction, and the Ethics of AI (#99)

Theresa Duringer — UI as Game Design, Onboarding Without Friction, and the Ethics of AI (#99)

January 29, 2026 · 1h 19m

About this episode

Theresa Duringer discusses the intersection of UI and game design, focusing on digital adaptations of tabletop games and the ethics of AI.

Theresa Duringer is the owner and CEO of Temple Gates Games , a San Francisco–based digital board game studio known for best-in-class adaptations of modern tabletop games. Her team has brought Ascension to VR and developed acclaimed digital versions of Dominion , Race for the Galaxy , Shards of Infinity , and more, with a relentless focus on speed, clarity, and intuitive UI. Theresa works closely with designers and publishers to translate complex tabletop systems into digital experiences that feel natural, responsive, and faithful to the original games, helping players around the world connect and play together online. In this episode, she shares insights on what makes a great digital adaptation, why performance and UX are inseparable from game design, and how to bridge the gap between physical and digital play without losing what makes tabletop special. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justingarydesign.substack.com/subscribe

People in this episode

Host: Justin Gary

Guest: Theresa Duringer

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Temple Gates Games

Products: Ascension, Dominion, Race for the Galaxy, Shards of Infinity

Places: San Francisco

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