What a typical day looks like for a Video Game Designer

For a Video Game Designer, no two days are exactly alike. The role involves a combination of creativity, technical expertise, and collaboration, with tasks ranging from brainstorming new game mechanics to fine-tuning existing designs. Whether working on a large-scale AAA game or a smaller indie project, Video Game Designers play a critical role in shaping the player’s experience. In this article, we’ll take a look at what a typical day looks like for a Video Game Designer, highlighting the key responsibilities and tasks that define the job.

1. Morning: Reviewing the Day’s Tasks and Team Check-ins

A typical day for a Video Game Designer often starts with reviewing the tasks at hand and checking in with the development team. Mornings are a great time to get organized, set goals for the day, and ensure that all moving parts of the game development process are aligned. Key activities during the morning include:

• Planning the day: Reviewing the to-do list for the day, including any new tasks or updates to ongoing projects. Designers prioritize tasks based on deadlines and the project’s needs.
• Team check-ins: Many designers begin their day with a daily stand-up meeting or a team check-in. These meetings are short but important, as they allow everyone to share updates, discuss progress, and flag any issues that may affect the timeline or workflow.
• Reviewing feedback: Designers often spend part of their morning reviewing feedback from other team members, such as developers, artists, and sound designers. Feedback can relate to game mechanics, level design, or other aspects of the game that need to be refined.

The morning is typically spent organizing, planning, and aligning with the team to ensure the development process is running smoothly and effectively.

2. Mid-Morning to Early Afternoon: Creative Design and Prototyping

Once the team is aligned and the day’s tasks are set, it’s time for designers to dive into the more creative aspects of their role. Mid-morning to early afternoon is often when designers focus on brainstorming new ideas, developing concepts, and working on prototypes. Key activities during this time include:

• Conceptualizing new game mechanics: Designers brainstorm ideas for new gameplay mechanics, features, and systems. This could involve thinking about how players will interact with the game world, what challenges they will face, and how to make the experience engaging and fun.
• Level design: Many designers spend time working on level design, laying out environments, defining objectives, and ensuring that levels flow logically. This can involve sketching designs on paper or using game design software to map out levels and game worlds.
• Prototyping new features: For new mechanics or ideas, designers often build quick prototypes to test how they work in practice. Prototypes are valuable tools for experimenting with ideas and getting a sense of how the game’s systems interact before committing to full-scale development.
• Collaborating with artists and programmers: During this time, designers work closely with other team members to ensure that the artistic vision aligns with the game mechanics. Designers discuss art styles, animations, and other visual aspects that will complement the gameplay experience.

Mid-morning to early afternoon is a time for creativity and iteration, where designers take concepts and turn them into tangible game features that can be tested and refined.

3. Afternoon: Playtesting, Iterating, and Refining Designs

In the afternoon, designers shift gears to focus on refining their work, testing gameplay, and iterating on existing designs. Playtesting is an essential part of the game development process, as it allows designers to see how players interact with their designs and identify areas for improvement. Key activities during this time include:

• Playtesting: Designers conduct internal playtesting to see how their designs function in practice. This involves playing through levels or features to identify any bugs, balance issues, or aspects of the design that need improvement.
• Iterating on feedback: After playtesting, designers review feedback from players, including colleagues, testers, or focus groups. Based on this feedback, they make adjustments to game mechanics, level designs, or difficulty levels to improve the player experience.
• Refining visual and audio elements: Designers collaborate with artists and sound designers to refine the visual and auditory aspects of the game. This might include adjusting animations, fine-tuning character models, or implementing new sound effects to enhance the gameplay experience.

Afternoon activities often involve refining designs based on feedback, fixing issues, and ensuring that all elements of the game come together to create a cohesive, enjoyable experience.

4. Late Afternoon: Reviewing Milestones and Preparing for Tomorrow

As the day winds down, Video Game Designers shift their focus to reviewing progress, preparing for the next steps, and ensuring that everything is on track. The late afternoon is a time for wrapping up ongoing tasks and organizing for the following day. Key activities include:

• Reviewing milestones: Designers often review the progress they’ve made toward project milestones. They assess whether tasks are on track, identify any delays, and adjust timelines as needed. This ensures that the game development process stays on schedule.
• Documenting changes and updates: Designers document any changes or updates made to the game, including adjustments to mechanics, levels, or features. This documentation is essential for keeping everyone on the team informed and ensuring that the design vision is consistent.
• Preparing for the next day: Before wrapping up for the day, designers often plan out tasks for the next day. This may involve reviewing the project schedule, identifying key objectives, and setting priorities for the following day’s work.

The late afternoon is a time for reviewing progress, ensuring everything is organized, and preparing for the next phase of the game development process.

5. Evening: Reflection and Professional Development

While evenings may not involve direct game design work, they provide an opportunity for reflection and professional development. Many designers use this time to stay updated on industry trends, improve their skills, or seek inspiration for future projects. Activities during the evening might include:

• Industry research: Designers often spend time reading articles, watching talks, or attending webinars to stay updated on industry trends, new technologies, and design best practices.
• Personal project work: Many designers use their evening time to work on personal game development projects. This allows them to experiment with new ideas and techniques outside of their main work, which can help build their portfolios and improve their skills.
• Networking and community engagement: Some designers use their evenings to engage with the gaming community by participating in online forums, attending virtual meetups, or networking with other designers and developers.

Evenings offer a chance to reflect on the day’s work, continue learning, and build connections within the game design community.

Conclusion: A Dynamic and Creative Role

A typical day for a Video Game Designer is dynamic and filled with a variety of creative and technical tasks. From planning and prototyping to playtesting and refining designs, the role requires a combination of creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. Each day offers new challenges and opportunities to push the boundaries of interactive experiences, and designers must stay organized and focused to meet project deadlines and deliver engaging gameplay. Whether working on a large-scale AAA game or an indie project, the work of a Video Game Designer is always exciting and ever-evolving.