How do you maximize your productivity as a game designer?

1 Plan your work

Before you dive into the actual design process, you need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, how you will achieve it, and what resources and tools you will need. Planning your work can help you set realistic and measurable goals, prioritize your tasks, and manage your time and budget. You can use different methods and tools to plan your work, such as brainstorming, mind mapping, prototyping, wireframing, Gantt charts, Kanban boards, or agile methodologies. Whatever you choose, make sure you have a way to track your progress, communicate with your team, and adjust your plan as needed.

2 Focus on the core

One of the biggest challenges of game design is to balance the scope, quality, and feasibility of your game. You may have a lot of ideas and features that you want to include in your game, but you also have to consider the limitations of your platform, technology, and resources. To avoid overloading your game and wasting your time and energy, you need to focus on the core of your game: the main gameplay loop, the unique selling point, and the player experience. You can use the MVP (minimum viable product) approach to identify and test the core of your game, and then iterate and improve on it based on feedback and data. You can also use the 80/20 rule to prioritize the 20% of your game that delivers 80% of the value and impact.

3 Test and iterate

Game design is not a linear process, but a cyclical one. You cannot expect to create a perfect game in one go, but you have to test and iterate your game throughout the development cycle. Testing and iterating your game can help you identify and fix bugs, errors, and glitches, as well as improve the usability, accessibility, and fun of your game. You can use different types of testing and iteration methods, such as playtesting, user testing, A/B testing, alpha testing, beta testing, or soft launch. You can also use different sources of feedback and data, such as surveys, reviews, ratings, analytics, or user-generated content. The key is to test and iterate your game early and often, and to be open to constructive criticism and suggestions.

4 Learn and improve

Game design is a dynamic and evolving field that requires constant learning and improvement. You cannot rely on your existing skills and knowledge, but you have to keep up with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices of the industry. Learning and improving your game design skills can help you enhance your creativity, innovation, and problem-solving abilities, as well as expand your portfolio and career opportunities. You can use different ways and resources to learn and improve your game design skills, such as online courses, books, podcasts, blogs, forums, webinars, workshops, or mentors. You can also learn and improve your game design skills by playing and analyzing other games, both in your genre and outside of it, and by joining and participating in game jams, competitions, or communities.

5 Collaborate and network

Game design is not a solo activity, but a collaborative one. You cannot create a game by yourself, but you have to work with other game designers, developers, artists, writers, sound engineers, testers, marketers, and publishers. Collaborating and networking with other game professionals can help you share your ideas, skills, and feedback, as well as learn from their experiences, insights, and perspectives. You can use different platforms and tools to collaborate and network with other game professionals, such as online forums, social media, chat apps, video conferencing, or cloud services. You can also collaborate and network with other game professionals by attending and speaking at game events, conferences, or festivals, or by joining and supporting game associations, organizations, or initiatives.

6 Balance your life

Game design is a passion and a profession, but it is not your whole life. You also have to take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as your personal and social life. Balancing your life as a game designer can help you avoid stress, fatigue, and burnout, as well as increase your happiness, satisfaction, and productivity. You can use different techniques and habits to balance your life as a game designer, such as setting and respecting your boundaries, scheduling and taking breaks, exercising and eating well, sleeping and resting enough, meditating and relaxing, or pursuing and enjoying other hobbies and interests. You can also balance your life as a game designer by spending and connecting with your family, friends, and loved ones, or by volunteering and contributing to your community or society.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?