Narrative Designer

Prof. S. E. Dinehart

Designing the Future of Storytelling

Creative Technology Leader | Human–AI Collaboration | Award-Winning Storyteller | Professor & Founder🎮🎢🎭🎲
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Previous Clients Including:
  • bethesda
  • rovio
  • saatchi
  • spumco
  • toyota
  • UAW
  • WB
  • gazil

Welcome to The Narrative Designer

Click above to watch a video introduction by Professor Dinehart (2016)

Stephen Erin Dinehart IV is a pioneering narrative designer, game maker, educator, and entrepreneur redefining the crossroads of themed entertainment, mixed reality, and play.

In 2006, he established the role of Narrative Designer at THQ, shaping a discipline now central to modern experience design. His portfolio spans AAA games, VR/AR for location-based entertainment, immersive theatrical productions, e-learning, and award-winning theme parks for brands like Nintendo, Marvel, DC, Warner Bros., NBC Universal, Toyota, and Saatchi & Saatchi.

Recent highlights include the AI music video Werewolf (Let The Beast Out), the GiantLands® roleplaying game, Evermore Park, Boomtown Fair, and Universal’s multi-THEA Award-winning Super Nintendo World.

What is a Narrative Designer?

A narrative designer shapes story within interactive media, most notably games, so experiences feel meaningful and unforgettable. Unlike traditional scriptwriters, narrative designers weave story directly into gameplay, uniting mechanics, worldbuilding, and character.

The role was first defined in 2006 by Professor Stephen E. Dinehart IV while collaborating with THQ and Relic Entertainment; today it’s a cornerstone of AAA development and beyond, with thousands practicing across games, film, education, and emerging media.

Watch "Werewolf (Let The Beast Out)" 2025
Award-Winning Storyteller

From Cloud and Company of Heroes to Super Nintendo World and Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, Prof. Stephen Dinehart’s work has earned critical acclaim and multiple award recognitions across games and themed entertainment.

New Media Expert

Prof. Stephen Dinehart has been building virtual worlds since 1998. In 2006, he co-created and defined the industry’s first Narrative Designer role, shaping a discipline that now guides how interactive experiences are imagined and produced.

Interactive Media Scholar

Professor Dinehart has been recognized as an honorary scholar by organizations including Electronic Arts, the Annenberg Foundation, the Gene Autry Foundation, and the David Lynch Foundation.

Motivational Speaker

From the Pyramids of Giza to The Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Harvard Business School, Prof. Dinehart inspires audiences worldwide to imagine and build a better future with storytelling, technology, art, and play.

Gain Magazine featuring Narrative Designer Stephen E. Dinehart IV

Gain Magazine Issue featuring an in-depth interview with Professor Dinehart

Interviewed in German Game  Culture Mag!

Late in 2023, the German game culture journal GAIN Magazine features an exclusive, in-depth interview with Professor Stephen E. Dinehart IV, conducted by the insightful Arno Görgen. In this final issue of the magazine, Dinehart delves into various facets of his work, life, and career, offering enlightening discourse on the intricacies of narrative design within the gaming landscape—a rare and rewarding opportunity. Professionals in the industry seldom have the chance to explore their craft in such depth. Görgen's thought-provoking questions allow Stephen to reflect on his journey as a narrative designer in ways previously unexplored. The interview is available exclusively in print and published solely in German. To acquire a copy, visit www.gain-magazin.de. Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to access a wealth of knowledge and inspiration in the last issue of GAIN Magazine.