How to Create a Universe

Abstract

How to Create a Universe helps you create and understand the universes that you love from books, films, TV series and games. Through ideas, reflections, drawings, conversations, theories and first-hand examples, the book takes the mystery out of universe building and provides new knowledge and methods for understanding and creating content for fictional universes.

You can use the methods in the book to develop, conceptualize and devise universes whether you are a game creator, film producer, writer, TV series showrunner, designer, theatre director, artist, researcher, student or educator – or simply enjoy being a curious explorer wishing to understand the creative process of building a fictional universe.

The book follows a similar approach to design research by focusing on methods and tools and, not least, interdisciplinary collaboration. Combining approaches from art research and the humanities with media studies and development processes, the book draws on extensive studies of works across different media, including film, TV series, games, computer games, theatre, literature and oral lore. We are inspired by explanations from narrative theory and biological evolution of the human urge to create and delve into fiction and fictive universes. Furthermore, we share the interest in methods, tools and collaboration models that characterizes design thinking.

The book’s nine chapters contain insights into the process of universe building from idea to publication; interviews with some of the world’s leading universe thinkers and builders; practical exercises for developing universes across traditional, new and future media formats; and more than 200 drawings and illustrations of models and examples to provide support and inspiration.

The authors draw on knowledge and information collected around the world over several years. In the book, you will meet people who have been involved in creating and developing the universes for Squid Game, Fight Club, The Terminal, Minority Report, Your Name, Suzume, Black Mirror, Mr. Turner, Wallace and Gromit, PandemicLegacy, Dead of Winter, Dark, Lego, El Tigre, Avatar, Spiderman, Halo, Quirky Circuits, End of Night, The Guilty and Enforcement.