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Poor game design accounts for 57% of negative feedback in video game reviews, highlighting just how important a skilled game designer is. As the global video game market heads toward US$363.20 billion, investing in quality design is essential to create games that engage players and stand out in a crowded market.
This guide will walk you through the hiring process for top game designers, detailing key skills to look for, interview tips, and expected costs to help you find the best talent for your project.
What is game design and what does a game designer do?
Game design is creating games that deliver engaging and enjoyable gameplay. Game designers shape the vision behind video games, planning the structure, game rules, and story elements that make a game fun.
While the game developer focuses on coding and technical tasks, the game designer builds the core structure. They create rules, systems, and challenges that shape the player’s journey. From brainstorming to testing, they refine each element to deliver a smooth, engaging experience.
Game designers work closely with artists, programmers, and other team members to bring game ideas to life. They often use tools like Adobe Illustrator to create visual assets that support the game’s aesthetic. Their tasks include:
- Developing the game’s main concept, story, and style
- Designing the game’s rules, systems, and interactions
- Planning levels, challenges, and progression
- Balancing gameplay to keep difficulty enjoyable
- Testing and improving based on feedback
- Ensuring the game aligns with the vision and player experience
Top-quality game designers are creative, analytical, and skilled problem-solvers. They understand what players enjoy and turn concepts into real gameplay. Their work makes games memorable and immersive for players.
Types of game designers you can hire
Choosing the right type of game designer depends on your project’s scope, budget, and goals. Here’s a look at the differences between freelance and in-house designers and specialized roles that may fit your team well.
Freelance game designers vs. in-house game designers
Freelancers offer flexibility and affordability for targeted projects or smaller budgets, bringing high-demand skills without the commitment of a full-time hire. However, managing them requires strong communication to align them with project goals.
In-house game designers, meanwhile, are fully integrated into your team’s workflow, understanding the game’s mechanics, story, and vision for easier collaboration and quick adjustments. Though often more costly, they provide consistent support, which is ideal for large or ongoing projects needing regular updates.
Specialized game designer roles to consider
Narrative designer: Creates engaging stories, develops characters, and writes dialogue. They ensure the game’s story elements are compelling and align with the overall design.
Art director: Sets and maintains the game’s aesthetic to match the client's vision. They oversee concept art, set style guides, and manage color palettes, ensuring high-quality, consistent visuals and providing feedback on 3D assets.
Concept artist: Creates detailed worlds and characters based on clients' preferences, from character design to environments. They develop rough sketches and iterate on these designs to build concept art that aligns with the client's vision.
3D character artist: Crafts realistic 3D characters using tools like ZBrush. They optimize topology for correct deformations and create game-ready, high-fidelity models for next-gen consoles and PCs.
3D environment and level design artist: Designs interactive 3D assets, including landscapes and weapons, using PBR textures for high-quality rendering in engines like Unreal or Unity. They handle scene composition, lighting, and optimization for smooth gameplay.
Animator: Produces realistic 3D and 2D animations to improve character depth and realism, using tools like Maya, Blender, Spine, and Dragon Bones. They optimize animations for platforms and can clean up motion capture data for polished results.
Graphic designer: Works closely with game designers to create the visual assets, including icons, textures, and UI elements. Graphic designers are crucial in creating visually appealing elements that improve the player’s experience.
UI/UX designer: Creates intuitive user interface elements to improve user experience. They use best practices in wireframing and prototyping to design immersive, accessible gaming experiences, including for Metaverse and VR.
Benefits of hiring freelance game designers
Freelance game designers offer a flexible, cost-effective way to bring specialized skills to your project. Here’s how hiring freelancers can benefit your game development.
Flexibility and cost savings
Freelancers provide flexibility and cost savings compared to hiring a full-time team. You can scale the number of designers based on your project’s needs, avoiding the expense of full-time salaries during slower phases. With freelancers, you pay only for the required skills and hours rather than committing to long-term costs and benefits.
Access to specialized skills on demand
Freelancers give you access to specialized game design expertise from around the world. Instead of being limited by local talent, you can find skilled designers with the needed skills. Whether it’s a narrative designer for stories, a level designer for environments, or a systems designer for game mechanics, freelancers let you bring in the right expertise when you need it.
How to hire game designers in 4 steps
Hiring a game designer requires careful planning to find the right fit for your project. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth hiring process and a strong addition to your team.
Step 1: Define your project scope and needs
Start by clarifying your project’s specifics. Consider the game type, platform (like PC or mobile), timeline, team size, and budget. Understanding these details will help you pinpoint the skills your game designer needs. This way, you’ll attract candidates who fit your project’s requirements well.
Step 2: Write an effective job post
A clear job post is essential to attract quality candidates. Begin with a job title that accurately reflects the role. In the description, provide an overview of the project, including the game concept, genre, and target audience. List core responsibilities, required skills, and key qualifications. Include information on pay, job location (remote or on-site), and other relevant details.
Step 3: Find candidates on popular platforms
Once you’ve crafted your job post, share it on popular marketplaces, job boards, and gaming sites that align with your goals and requirements. Hiring global talent through Arc is a great option if you’re looking for an expert game designer within a specific budget. Arc provides access to pre-vetted talent, and its AI-powered candidate matching streamlines the hiring process, saving you time and money. Networking and referrals can also connect you with strong candidates.
Step 4: Interview and plan onboarding
Review resumes and portfolios to identify candidates with the right experience as applications come in. Start with brief interviews and ask deeper questions about their technical expertise, design approach, and creativity for final interviews.
Once you’ve selected a candidate, extend an offer and confirm job details like pay and benefits. Ensure you have an onboarding plan to help them settle in quickly. Assign a mentor or team lead to guide them and offer them the support they need to start contributing immediately.
Key qualities to look for in a game designer
Finding the right game designer requires combining technical expertise and soft skills. Here are the essential qualities to prioritize.
Technical skills
Proficiency with game engines: Game designers should be skilled in industry-standard engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, which are widely used across different game types. This knowledge allows them to implement and refine game elements effectively.
Coding knowledge: Familiarity with programming languages like C# or Python is valuable, enabling designers to test and prototype ideas independently. Basic coding skills also help them collaborate closely with developers.
Understanding of game design principles: Designers should grasp core concepts like game mechanics, level design, and user experience (UX). These principles guide them in creating balanced, engaging gameplay that keeps players invested.
Familiarity with design patterns: Knowledge of patterns like Model-View-Controller (MVC) or Entity-Component-System (ECS) helps designers structure game systems efficiently. This understanding allows them to create organized, scalable game frameworks.
Soft skills
Clear communication: Designers must convey ideas effectively, take constructive feedback, and collaborate with teams like artists, game developers, and producers. Good communication ensures a smoother, more aligned creative process.
Creativity and innovation: Game designers should generate fresh ideas and find innovative solutions to design challenges. This ability helps them create unique experiences that captivate players.
Problem-solving skills: Designers need to break down complex issues, consider various solutions, and make decisions that balance play experience, technical constraints, and project goals. Strong problem-solving is essential for navigating design challenges.
Adaptability: The gaming industry evolves quickly with new tools, platforms, and trends. Designers must stay current, learn new tools, and adapt to shifts in industry practices to keep their work relevant and effective.
How to write an effective game designer job description
Creating a clear, detailed job post is key to attracting the right game designer candidates. Follow these steps to ensure your description stands out.
Guidelines for writing a game designer job description
Title and summary: Start with a concise, specific title like "Game Designer" or "Narrative Game Designer." Follow with a short summary that highlights the project’s scope, genre, and key responsibilities.
Project overview: Provide a brief description of the game, including genre, target platforms, and a summary of the game’s concept or story. This gives candidates insight into whether the project aligns with their interests and skills.
Responsibilities: Outline the main tasks the designer will handle, such as creating game mechanics, designing levels, developing storylines, collaborating with artists and programmers, and ensuring an enjoyable gameplay experience.
Requirements: List the technical and soft skills essential for the role. Technical skills may include experience with game engines (like Unity or Unreal Engine), scripting languages (like C# or Python), and design tools. Soft skills might include creativity, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
Experience and education: Specify the required experience level, such as entry-level, mid-level, or senior. Include educational requirements, such as a degree in game design, computer science, or a similar field.
Additional details: Add information about the project timeline, team structure, and work setup (like remote, on-site, or hybrid). Include pay, benefits, and relocation support if applicable.
Example game designer job post
Title: Narrative game designer
Summary: We are seeking an experienced narrative game designer to join us in creating a story-driven RPG for PC and consoles. You’ll lead the development of engaging stories, memorable characters, and quests with choice-driven dialogue across different genres.
Project overview: Our project is a dark fantasy RPG inspired by medieval folklore. Players will face political intrigue, moral choices, and supernatural events, with branching storylines, multiple endings, and rich lore that rewards exploration and decision-making.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and manage the main storyline to maintain player engagement
- Create distinct, memorable characters with unique backgrounds and motivations
- Design quest systems, dialogue trees, and choice-based narratives
- Collaborate with level designers to integrate story elements seamlessly
- Work closely with writers, artists, and programmers to bring the story to life
- Ensure quality and consistency across all narrative elements
Requirements:
- 3+ years of professional experience in game design with a storytelling focus and a proven track record in delivering engaging narratives
- Strong understanding of story structure, character design, and world-building
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Proficiency with game design tools and scripting languages (Unity, Unreal Engine, C#, or Python)
- Familiarity with RPG mechanics
- Strong teamwork and collaboration skills
- Bachelor’s degree in game design, creative writing, or a related field
Additional details:
- Full-time, permanent position
- Competitive salary and benefits
- Opportunities for growth and professional development
- Remote work with occasional on-site meetings
- Relocation assistance for qualified candidates
The most important game designer interview questions
Ask questions about their experience, creativity, teamwork, and adaptability to identify strong game design candidates. Here are the key questions and what to listen for.
1. Describe a game you designed and the design process you followed.
This question reveals the candidate's experience and approach to design. Look for a clear explanation of game design principles, user experience, and specific steps they took to refine the game. Warning signs include vague answers, a lack of examples, or an overly simplified approach.
2. How would you balance gameplay mechanics to make the experience challenging but fair?
A good answer shows an understanding of difficulty scaling, player progression, and the value of playtesting. A highly skilled designer might discuss methods like dynamic difficulty adjustment, feedback loops, or tracking player data. Warning signs include simplistic answers or no consideration for players with varying skill levels.
3. Imagine you have to design a new game mode or feature. How would you come up with and test ideas?
This question assesses creativity and problem-solving skills. A strong response should outline a clear ideation process, like brainstorming, mapping ideas, or referencing similar games. Candidates should also explain how they’d test and rank ideas based on feasibility, player interest, and project requirements. Warning signs include lacking a structured plan or relying too heavily on personal preferences.
4. How would you work with a team of artists, programmers, and other designers to create a unified game experience?
Good candidates emphasize clear communication, regular updates, and shared design documents. They should also mention strategies for resolving conflicts, handling feedback, and maintaining a unified vision. Warning signs include reluctance to work in teams or a lack of flexibility.
5. Describe a time when you had to change your design approach due to technical limits or shifting project needs.
This question evaluates adaptability and real-world problem-solving. Look for answers showing how they quickly adjusted, found alternative solutions, and prioritized key features. They should also mention how they managed expectations and communicated changes. Warning signs include resistance to adjustments, inflexibility, or lack of backup planning.
How much does it cost to hire a game designer?
The cost to hire a game designer depends on several factors, including the designer’s experience, location, and project scope. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect.
Factors affecting game designer rates
Game designer rates vary based on experience, specialization, location, and project complexity. Designers with specialized skills or years of experience typically charge more, especially those in major tech hubs or working on large, intricate projects. Rates may differ by platform and studio size, with bigger studios often paying higher rates.
Estimating your game design budget
Freelance game designers typically charge hourly or per project, with rates ranging from $30 to $150 per hour based on expertise and project complexity. In contrast, salaried designers earn a set annual pay, usually between $50,000 and $120,000, with higher rates for senior roles or positions at top studios.
Consider the project’s scale, duration, and specific skill requirements when budgeting for game design. Hiring a freelance designer may be more cost effective for smaller projects or prototypes, costing $5,000 to $20,000. Larger, complex projects often require a team of designers, including specialists like narrative or level designers, which can increase costs significantly. In such cases, allocating 10% to 20% of your total development budget for game design is a good starting point.
Common challenges in hiring game designers and how to overcome them
Hiring game designers involves unique challenges, from aligning on vision to managing budgets and remote work. Here are key issues and strategies to handle them effectively.
Ensuring alignment on project vision
Maintaining a shared vision is essential for creating an engaging game, but aligning a designer’s ideas with stakeholder expectations can be challenging. Establish clear communication, schedule regular check-ins, and encourage open dialogue to align everyone with project goals.
Balancing budget constraints with quality
Balancing budget and quality is a common challenge in game development. Focus on essential features that align with your core vision, and consider cost-effective options like established game engines or hiring freelancers for specific tasks. Regularly review progress and adjust resources as needed.
Managing remote work and collaboration
Remote work can complicate team coordination, so strong communication and collaboration are vital. Use project management software, video calls, and real-time tools for smooth communication and file sharing. Set clear processes for task assignments and reviews, and build trust through clear expectations and regular feedback.
Key takeaways of hiring top game designers
Hiring the right game designer is key to project success. Define your goals, craft a clear job description, and use multiple channels to find talent. In interviews, look for a mix of technical skills, creativity, and problem-solving ability.
While budget matters, prioritize quality. A skilled designer improves user experience and game impact. Set up clear communication and a shared project vision for remote work.
With a careful approach, you’ll find a designer who brings your ideas to life. Start with the right hire, and you’re on the path to a successful, engaging game.
