IGDA Foundation Announces 2026 Gerald Lawson Award Winner

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IGDA Foundation Announces 2026 Gerald Lawson Award Winner

Applications for Questline: Gamescom and Questline: Online 2026 are Open

LOS ANGELES – March 11, 2026 – The IGDA Foundation in partnership with the BlG Foundation, proudly announced Lisette Titre-Montgomery as the recipient of the Gerald Lawson Award for Achievement in Game Development, presented last night during the Black in Gaming Awards at GDC, and Lex Roberts as the Eric Dybsand Scholar award recipient, recognized during the 2026 GDC Festival of Gaming.

The Gerald Lawson Award for Achievement in Game Development recognizes individuals from underrepresented communities whose work helps shape the future of the game industry. This year, the award is sponsored by the ID@Xbox Developer Acceleration Program.

Lisette Titre-Montgomery is an award-nominated creative leader known for guiding teams through complex visual challenges via processes that allow creativity to thrive. Her work in art direction has been recognized by The Game Awards, BAFTA, and the Golden Joystick Awards, among others. She currently serves as Co-Founder of Cornerstone Interactive Studio, a new game company focused on creating innovative, engaging experiences designed for intergenerational play.

"I’m deeply honored to receive the Gerald Lawson Award and grateful to the IGDA Foundation and the Black in Gaming Awards for this recognition,” says Titre-Montgomery. “Gerald Lawson’s legacy represents the power of having a strong vision, the ability to execute, and making sure your community is SEEN as you follow along your path to excellence. Values that guide my intentions as a leader.”

Later this week, the Eric Dybsand Scholarship Award, named in memory of one of the "original A.I. guys" at GDC, will be presented to one aspiring developer demonstrating excellence in the field of artificial intelligence. As the 2026 award recipient, Lex Roberts is a Game Tools Programmer at Media Molecule, writing editor tools and game systems that enable colleagues to realize incredible ideas. Additionally, they are a founding employee at the UK's National Videogame Museum supporting in the design and maintenance of exhibitions, and represent the museum both locally and internationally.

“I am so excited and honoured to have been selected to receive the Eric Dybsand Memorial AI Scholarship,” says Lex. “The opportunities that I have had with the IGDA Foundation have been incredible and I am very grateful to be part of this community. I can't wait to meet some of my peers in person, learn as much as possible and return with new ideas and inspiration.”

The IGDA-F is also providing its Questline: GDC programming for eleven talented grantees, in large part thanks to the generous support of the GDC organizers, StridePR, and companies like Meridian Studios/Apex Systems.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Questline: Online (previously called the Virtual Exchange) and Questline: Gamescom programs through March 27th, 2026.

Questline: Gamescom is a brand-new bootcamp from the IGDA Foundation designed for aspiring founders and early-stage studio leaders who are ready to level up. Questline: Online is a six-week annual virtual development program for grantees from underrepresented communities globally.

The 2026 program will host grantees from these four cohorts:

The International Scholars cohort consists of students attending or recently graduated from colleges and universities worldwide with a goal of preparing its grantees for a career in the video game industry.
Early Career supports game developers in their first few years in the industry, providing guidance, mentorship, and resources to help them grow, succeed, and build sustainable careers in games.
Velocity is for professionals looking to transition into the game industry from another nongaming-related career or industry.
Next Gen Leaders supports mid-career game industry professionals as they look to transition to leadership roles in the industry.

“Getting the opportunity to support organizations like the IGDA Foundation is an honor,” says Erica Woods Director, Talent Experience and Social Impact. “Their mission and the communities they support are incredibly worthwhile. Having been a participant and volunteer at several IGDA Foundation events that support future generations of gaming professionals has given me great insight at the immense value they provide. I’m continuously impressed at all of the continued programming they have to offer.”

“Each year, our programs bring together emerging developers from around the world who are ready to take the next step in their careers in games while helping build a more inclusive community for our industry. Questline: Online is a highly competitive program, and we’re honored to offer selected grantees a rare chance to gain global perspectives, build meaningful connections across borders, and accelerate the impact they can have in their local communities and the industry as a whole,” said Alyssa Walles, Executive Director.

To find out more about the IGDA Foundation’s initiatives and apply for Questline: Online and Questline: Gamescom, visit https://www.igdafoundation.org/questline. To stay up to date on IGDA-F news, please follow us on Linkedin and Bluesky.

About the IGDA Foundation

The International Game Developers Association Foundation (IGDA-F) is dedicated to advancing inclusivity and diversity in the gaming industry by providing opportunities, education, and support for individuals from underrepresented communities. The IGDA-F is sponsored by a generous group of industry companies, including Stride PR, GDC, and Premack Rogers Downs. Since 2008, the IGDA-F has supported more than 1,000 alumni who now develop games at both AAA and indie studios. For more information, visit https://igdafoundation.org