With the gaming industry among the biggest in the world right now, game designers have never been more highly sought after. Whether you are a major gaming studio creating AAA games or a startup with a revolutionary idea for an indie game, the designers are the ones that will bring your ideas into digital life. But how do you go about hiring the right game designer for your team?
In this step-by-step guide, we'll guide you through the process of hiring a game designer that best suits your project.
What is a Game Designer?
A games designer is a creative professional that conceives and designs the the gameplay, mechanics, and user experience of a video game. Through close collaboration with artists, programmers, and other members of the team, they reinvent ideas into compelling interactive realities.
At each phase of game production, the game designers take on many different roles. They are responsible for creating engaging storys, designing maps, allocating mechanics, and making adjustments to the difficulty level to support gameplay.
Key Responsibilities of a Game Designer:
Conceptualize Game Ideas
Usually, game designers are in charge of designing the general concept of the game, including gameplay mechanics, story elements and geenralstructure. Working alongside other team members allows them to think outside the box and together, they come up with ideas and strategies in line with the project's objective and audience.
Design Game Mechanics
Gameplay mechanics are one of his key tasks that define how the players will interact with the virtual space. That covers such functions as setting up player controls, character powers, physics, and progression.
Write Game Documentation
Game designers often start with a design concept or spec sheet which acts as a roadmap for the development team, and it is used to govern the product development process. Documentation that is clear and consistent in its style is crucial in the design of the game if it's to be a consistent and engaging experience for players.
Playtesting and Iteration
Game designers need to know what the players are going to feel and as they're playing and that's where testing comes in. They play with multiple types of data, gather player information, and experiment with various successful designs to increase player satisfaction. Playtesting is a crucial aspect of iterative game development and helps the game to meet players’ expectations.
What to Look for in a Game Designer?
Hiring the right game designer is essential for the success of your project. Here are some key qualities and attributes to look for when evaluating candidates:
Technical Proficiency
A good game designer must be as creative as they are technically competent as he/she must be familiar with the latest game development tools, software, and technologies. Look for candidates who are skilled in game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine and coding in languages like C# or C++.
Understanding of Game Mechanics
A game designer should have solid knowledge and understanding of game mechanics and the psychology of players. Look for individuals who can build up riveting gameplay mechanics, carry out the necessary difficulty levels, and endow players with substantial game choices as consequences.
Understanding of Player Experience
A successful games designer knows the significance of player experience and tries to make games that are all-encompassing, holistic and (most importantly) fun for the players. Seek candidates with empathy, as above all else, the needs and preferences of the layers need to be taken into account to design experiences that attract them.
Using Creativepool
Looking to hire a games designer? Creativepool has thousands of talented members waiting to make your project shine.
There are 3 ways for you to find a games designer on Creativepool.
Search and Contact
Are you looking for more control over your collaborations and the selection process? Taking a proactive approach to talent scouting involves directly searching for talent and handpicking individuals you’d like to work with.
Here’s how it works: Simply search for game designers and explore the results. You’ll have the opportunity to review their projects, CVs, and resumes, allowing you to make an informed decision for your next hire.
At Creativepool, we utilize a set of indicators to rank our members based on their job titles. By exploring the top 25 ranked game designers, you can efficiently discover the most talented individuals on our platform. However, don’t overlook the potential of finding untapped talent among our thousands of other skilled members.
Once you identify a professional whose style and experience align with your requirements, reach out to them directly by clicking on the message tab. If you have a specific vision for the type of creative professional you’d like to collaborate with, utilizing our search feature is the ideal approach.
Once you’ve discovered a professional whose style and experience resonate with your needs, reach out to them directly by clicking on the message tab. If you have a precise vision of the type of creative professional you’d like to collaborate with, searching is the ideal approach.
Post a studiogig
Looking for a freelance games designer? The quickest way to find available talent is to advertise your brief. With us, briefs for individuals are called studiogigs.
Posting your role is a simple process. Once you submit it, we kick into action behind the scenes to find the perfect talent for your requirements. After advertising your brief, all you need to do is sit back and wait for direct applications from interested candidates
Post a job
If you are looking for a permanent games designer, then advertising a game designer job is the best way for to attract talent. The process is identical to posting a studiogig.
Once you post your role, we’ll carefully review the advertisement details. We’ll then send job alerts to our community members who closely match your criteria, and your role will be prominently featured on our jobs board. Interested StudioGigs applicants will apply directly to you.
Whether you’re posting a job or a StudioGig, or if you’re searching for talent, rest assured that you retain full control over whom you choose to hire. There’s no obligation to select any of the applicants, and you can negotiate rates directly with them.
If you need any help on your talent hunt. You can chat with us or send us a message. We'd be happy to help.
Conclusion
Hiring a game designer is a crucial step in creating captivating and thrilling gameplay. As you define your project requirements and select candidates based on their creative abilities, technical skills, and collaborative mindset, you’ll assemble a team dedicated to your success.
Prioritize finding individuals who share a genuine passion for gaming, and emphasize continuous learning—this commitment constantly pushes the boundaries of game design, ensuring top-notch results. By engaging a skilled game designer, you’re one step closer to witnessing your gaming narrative come to life and delight players worldwide
