Ascender's design started from the idea that players should be able to control the platforms in a platformer. We have already seen similar stuff in some games -
but the control the player had was extremely limited and minor.
I  started to think of ways the player could impact the platforms, and use them to their advantage:
e.g. being able to slam onto platforms, thus tilting them and displacing the enemies on the platforms.

Following that, I designed several other potential attacks,
and designed a simple enemy and the losing condition.
My narrative design was inspired by Roald Dahl's storytelling:
using eccentric humor to cover up the in-game violence, 
leading to the creation of the "capture" mechanic; 

the enemies had to capture the main character - by staying close to him for a set amount of time -

not kill him like other games usually do.

I immersed myself further in the story's narrative by writing extensive world building,
which created a reasonable cause for a world built upon flying platforms,
as well as allies and bosses that have a deep connection to the world and the main character.

I took inspiration from Hades, Ori and the blind forest, Skull the hero slayer, Sanabi, 
Mr Fancy Pants & Celeste