Career Advice for a Games Designer

Working as a Games Designer, you will work with designers, artists, directors, and programmers to develop original ideas, and produce and test the games.

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How to Become a Games Designer

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Games Designer

Should you wish to work as a Games Designer you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Games Designer

  • At least four GCSEs.
  • A Level in Computing.
  • HND in Creative Media Production Games Development.
  • T Level in Digital Production, Design, and Development.
  • A Degree in Computer Games Technology, Interactive Media, Computer Games Development, or Computer Science.

Key Responsibilities for a Games Designer

  • Collaborating with other designers and artists to develop visual elements, scenery, objects, and characters.
  • Creating game code.
  • Pitching concepts and ideas using storyboards.
  • Selecting and adding audio, narratives, and sound effects.
  • Testing game quality and debugging code.
  • Using modelling and animation software.

What to expect as a Games Designer

Working as a Games Designer, you might work from an office or in a creative study. You will need excellent design and collaboration skills and a talent for writing and debugging code. Problem-solving, maths, and attention to detail are also essential in finding success as a Games Designer.

Recommended Games Designer Jobs

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How to get Games Designer Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Games Designer job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Games Designer application. If you have not held a Games Designer position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Games Designer role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Games Designer CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Games Designer application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Games Designer in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Games Designer 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Games Designer and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Games Designer experience.

How to get Games Designer Experience

What does it take to be a Games Designer? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Games Designer jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Games Designer through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Games Designer Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Games Designer part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Games Designer or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Games Designer freelance work

If you have impressive Games Designer qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.