Our Team
Derek
The Nomnisaur Wrangler
Derek is an easy-going, globe-trotting mental health professional by day and an award-winning game designer by night.
He is the mind behind many top-shelf tabletop games, and is frequently found speaking on the importance of accessible mental health all across North America.
While he got into game development the usual way—a steady diet of geek media and anime, a hatred of sleep, and way, way too much beer—his background in psychotherapy is what reinforced his love of shared worlds and co-operative storytelling.
Seeing and experiencing the similarities between therapy and gaming, Derek now marries the two, and is one of the few pioneers in the young field of therapeutic gaming that attempts to make psychological health more inclusive, available, and most-importantly, fun, for everyone.
Jin
The Artist
Jin is a Toronto-based artist, and works full-time for her independent studio, Belli-Buttons (whenever she isn't taking care of Derek).
Jin is most commonly found at conventions, selling buttons and other merch of her favorite anime and game characters.
On the side, Jin streams on Twitch, where you can watch her illustrate or hear her curse as she plays games.
Bunny (Sarah)
The Crafter
Bunny is often seen doing what bunnies do—burrowing and binking about.
When she's not doing that, she helps out with the design process with her arts, crafts, and leather-working to ensure that all of our stuff is as cute as can be!
Like Jin, she takes care of Derek (since he's so, so bad at it) by making sure he remembers to eat.
Dyson
a.k.a. rex & woofle
Dyson is the newest member of Jin & Derek’s family. Adopted in 2018 from the Rat Terrier Rescue of Canada, Dyson has brought light and joy (and infinite dog hair) into their lives like no other.
Whenever Jin and Derek aren’t at a convention, they spend their days cuddling and nights sleeping with their goodest boy.
That doesn’t mean life on the road isn’t lonely!
So to make sure their favorite puppy is always with them, Dyson is a recurring character featured in all of their artwork and games.