The Design Dojo

A Studio for Tabletop Game Designers

Selective by design — built for designers ready for pressure.

Refine the game.
Stabilize the experience.

The Cohort is where prototypes become stable. This is a structured cycle designed to compress mechanics, sharpen decisions, strengthen rulebooks, and produce real blind-test data.

Compression

Remove noise

  • Cut redundancy
  • Clarify the core decision
  • Strengthen the tension curve
Stability

Make it repeatable

  • Rules clarity & teaching tests
  • Pacing stabilization
  • Version discipline
Blind testing

Replace assumptions with data

  • No designer explanation
  • Observation + diagnostics
  • Actionable fixes

Apply for the next Cohort

This is a pressure-tested environment. The fastest way in is honesty: tell us what’s stable, what’s fragile, and what you want fixed.

What we need

Minimums

  • A complete playable loop
  • A draft rulebook or teach doc
  • Version history (even simple notes)
  • Willingness to cut
What you get

Outcome focus

  • Clear compression targets
  • Blind-test diagnostics
  • Pacing stabilization
  • Rules clarity proof
Next step

5–8 minutes

  • Answer the readiness checklist
  • Share your current version
  • Tell us your biggest risk
  • Submit
Start Cohort Application Not sure? Check fit

Is the Cohort a fit?

The Cohort is for designers ready to refine — not just explore. Admission is selective to protect outcomes.

Minimum readiness

You should have

  • A complete playable loop
  • A draft rules document
  • Version discipline
  • Some testing history
Best outcomes

We optimize for

  • Clarity and compression
  • Blind-test progress
  • Stable pacing
  • Pitch readiness pathway
Not for

It’s not the stage for

  • Early concept chaos
  • Constant new mechanics
  • Validation-only feedback
  • Unwillingness to cut

What happens in a 12-week cycle?

Every week has measurable objectives. Drift is not allowed. Progress is documented.

Weeks 1–4

Compression & decisions

  • Define the core decision
  • Cut redundancy
  • Reduce cognitive load
Weeks 5–8

Rules & pacing

  • Rule clarity passes
  • Teaching tests
  • Pacing stabilization
Weeks 9–12

Blind tests & stability

  • Blind test trials
  • Diagnostic fixes
  • Pitch readiness plan

Advanced Cohort ($1,800)

For projects nearing real-world exposure. Built for deeper diagnostics and readiness decisions.

More pressure

Expanded testing

  • More blind-test reps
  • Higher scrutiny
  • Deeper iteration sprints
More clarity

Pitch readiness

  • Core pitch tightening
  • Sell sheet direction
  • Publisher/studio path
More accountability

Outcomes

  • Clear “ready / not yet” decision
  • Documented roadmap
  • Stability milestones