Hiring a game designer is not a simple task. You need to consider many factors, such as the type, scope, and genre of your game, the skills, experience, and portfolio of the designer, and the budget, timeline, and communication style of the project. In this article, you will learn some essential questions to ask yourself and the designer before making a decision.
The first thing you need to know is what kind of game you want to make and why. What is the core idea, theme, and message of your game? What are the main features, mechanics, and goals of your game? What is the target audience, platform, and market of your game? Having a clear and coherent vision will help you define the scope and requirements of your game design, as well as the criteria to evaluate the designer's suitability.
A clear game vision is pivotal; it aligns the team and guides the designer. Assess if the candidate's creativity complements your project's ethos and objectives.
For me, it's all about passion. If you tell me what you are burning for, I'll get a pretty good idea in what light to view everything else that follows. Secondly, it would probably be how to articulate this passion. How contagious it is, and how well transported it can be. Because that's what we do in game design, too.
Si la visión del juego no está definida desde un inicio, es muy probable que el juego no se sienta definido a lo largo del desarrollo. Un dise?ador de juegos debe saber comunicar de forma clara todas las ideas, procesos y mecánicas con las que trabaje.
Ask them to rank the following, from most to least important: UX, graphics, narrative, game mechanics, fun. If they choose fun as most important, don't hire them. They don't know what the hell they're talking about.
To know is what kind of game you want to make and why. What is the core idea, theme, and message of your game? What are the main features, mechanics, and goals of your game? What is the target audience, platform, and market of your game? Having a clear and coherent vision will help you define the scope and requirements of your game design, as well as the criteria to evaluate the designer's suitability.
The second thing you need to know is what skills and competencies the game designer should have. Game design is a broad and multidisciplinary field, involving aspects such as gameplay, narrative, level design, user interface, sound, art, and programming. Depending on the type and complexity of your game, you may need a designer who can handle some or all of these aspects, or who can collaborate effectively with other specialists. You should also look for a designer who has relevant experience, knowledge, and passion for the genre and style of your game.
What are you looking for? Do you need a game designer? Do you know a level designer? Do you need someone who can communicate with the game tester and balance the game accordingly? The first thing you should look, is your own needs, the term 'Game Designer' can be very broad, someone could be able to also do Concept Art, someone can only do UI/UX, you have to be clear both in job posts and in your plan on what position needs to be filled, otherwise you may have a person who has the right skills for the wrong job.
Look for a versatile skill set: storytelling, mechanics design, and user engagement. A great designer crafts memorable, seamless experiences. Don't forget that games also about the business, game designer should understand how to combine engagement and monetization in each aspects of core and meta in your game.
Creative Director | Game Designer | Game Producer | Project Manager | Product Manager
Review the candidate's portfolio to assess their skills, experience, and style. Look for a diverse range of projects that showcase their proficiency in game design, being a generalist or an expert in a particular field, as well as synergy in any other relevant areas. Evaluate the candidate's experience in the gaming industry, including their previous roles, projects they've worked on, and their level of involvement in each project. Consider whether they have experience with the specific genre or type of game you're developing.
The second thing you need to know is what skills and competencies the game designer should have. Game design is a broad and multidisciplinary field, involving aspects such as gameplay, narrative, level design, user interface, sound, art, and programming. Depending on the type and complexity of your game, you may need a designer who can handle some or all of these aspects, or who can collaborate effectively with other specialists.
I think that in life, as in game design, you have to find the fun. There is joy out there waiting to be discovered, but it might not be where you expected. You can’t decide what something’s going to be before you embark on it, and you shouldn’t stick with a bad idea just because you’re fond of it. Take action as quickly and repeatedly as possible, take advantage of what you already know, and take liberties with tradition. But most importantly, take the time to appreciate the possibilities, and make sure all of your decisions are interesting ones.
The third thing you need to know is what the game designer has done before and how well they have done it. The best way to assess the quality and creativity of a game designer is to look at their portfolio, which should showcase their previous projects, roles, and contributions. You should pay attention to how the designer has implemented their game vision, solved design problems, and delivered engaging and fun experiences. You should also play some of their games, if possible, to get a firsthand impression of their skills and style.
A portfolio isn't just work samples; it's a narrative of problem-solving and innovation. Seek projects that showcase a breadth of genres and challenges tackled.
The third thing you need to know is what the game designer has done before and how well they have done it. The best way to assess the quality and creativity of a game designer is to look at their portfolio, which should showcase their previous projects, roles, and contributions. You should pay attention to how the designer has implemented their game vision, solved design problems, and delivered engaging and fun experiences.
I have two portfolios: -My professional portfolio -My science lab I always show both with pride. Your design timeline shows what you've learned over the years, how versatile you are, and how your head works when a challenge arises.
For many game players, games exist for entertainment, for passing the time, for fun. They are a diversionary activity, meant for relaxation or distraction—a “not- work” space where players are free to engage in fantasy narratives, amazing feats, and rewarding tasks. But what if certain games have become something more......
The fourth thing you need to know is how the game designer works and communicates. Game design is not a linear or fixed process, but rather an iterative and flexible one, that requires constant testing, feedback, and improvement. You should ask the designer about their preferred methods, tools, and frameworks for game design, as well as their approach to documentation, prototyping, and evaluation. You should also discuss how the designer will communicate with you and the rest of the team, how often they will update you on the progress and issues, and how they will handle changes and revisions.
Understanding their process reveals much about a designer's approach to collaboration and iteration. It's about finding someone whose method melds with your team's rhythm.
It is important to know what kind of designer the person is. Does the person enjoy rapidly prototyping tons of ideas, or do they like to craft elaborate interconnected systems? How receptive are they to feedback? Do they see their design as a collaborative or a competitive task? Clever design can be found by iterating upon already existing ideas, instead of starting from scratch.
The fifth thing you need to know is how much the game designer will cost and how they will charge. Game design is a time-consuming and complex task, that can vary widely in terms of scope, duration, and quality. You should have a realistic and flexible budget for your game design, based on the size and scope of your game, the market rates and expectations of the designer, and the value and return of your game. You should also negotiate with the designer about their payment terms, such as hourly, fixed, or milestone-based, as well as their deliverables, deadlines, and ownership rights.
Discussing budget upfront ensures both sides have realistic expectations. It's not just about costs; it's about value and ROI a designer brings to the table.
The sixth thing you need to know is how well the game designer fits with your vision, team, and project. Game design is not only a technical and creative skill, but also a personal and collaborative one, that requires trust, respect, and compatibility. You should look for a designer who shares your passion and vision for your game, who can work well with you and the rest of the team, and who can adapt and grow with your project. You should also consider the designer's personality, values, and goals, and how they align with yours.
Opinion: It is clear that when building a long-term team, one should seek a reliable person, a kindred spirit whom you can trust through thick and thin. In the short term, for a specific project, it is beneficial to look for either a highly motivated or a narrowly specialized individual to tackle specific tasks.
Considere a capacidade de comunica??o assertiva e negocia??o, visto que o profissional precisa se comunicar de forma efetiva com todas as pessoas da equipe. Conhecimento em várias áreas ou com outra forma??o diferente da área de jogos, pode ajudar a enriquecer o perfil do game designer. Experiência em game jams. Pois, esses eventos ajudam a desenvolver habilidades de comunica??o, trabalho em equipe, negocia??o e contru??o de um protótipo ou MVP de jogo em pouco tempo.
Consider their adaptability to new trends and technologies. Gaming is an evolving field, and a designer who is a lifelong learner can be a valuable asset.
Give them a concrete task, where they have to be detailed enough so you can understand how they think. For example, give them an existing game, and ask them to perform a task, like, how would you add live events with Leaderboards to Candy Crush? Of course this will be different depending on your game, but is a nice way of testing how they work with real life examples. Try to be very specific about what you need, but leave enough room for them to explain, investigate and show you what they know. Then make an interview to discuss a lot of those points, and I guarantee you will get a lot of insights about their thinking process
Consider what you're hiring them for. Do you know what you need done? Game designers have specialties like any other field and picking up the most highly qualified or experienced technical designer doesn't help if you need someone with an art speciality.