Description:
The Design Director is team leader who works with the Game Director to define gameplay and level design needs in alignment with the overall creative vision and goals for the game, and manages discipline leads and their teams to execute those elements in close collaboration with Engineering, Animation, Art, Narrative, and Audio.
Responsibilities
- Work closely with Game Director and team leads to ensure all design elements form a cohesive and fun experience for players based on the creative pillars and USPs of the game.
- Communicates and drafts detailed briefs for design teams (e.g. level, systems, UX/UI) to understand the creative vision of the project.
- Oversee and direct the design team in creating overall game mechanics, systems, and features, using internal and third-party developers.
- Oversee the creation of prototypes and provide feedback to refine and improve game mechanics.
- Partner closely with Engineering, Animation, and other departments and stakeholders to ensure an efficient and effective game development process and cohesive integration of their work into the game design.
- Review works in progress and draft comprehensive feedback on game design and implementation with the team.
- Model a culture of creative collaboration, transparent communication, and respect for all members of the studio team.
- Establish and maintain best practices to optimize design outcomes.
- Create design documentation and guides for the dev team to reference.
- Work with Production to develop scheduling and resource planning to ensure timely and successful completion of the game.
- Devise and assemble conditions for the design team’s success.
- Mentor and coach team members to foster their design, technical, and professional development
Requirements
- Passion and enthusiasm for VR, broad knowledge of current VR games
- 15+ years of design experience in PC/console gaming, with at least 5 years’ experience building and managing a design department
- Must have experience in full development cycle with at least 1 shipped AAA game
- Has broad knowledge in all areas of game production, introducing new tools, design trends, and workflows
- Deep understanding and experience with combat systems, level design, boss design, character progression, crafting and item economies
- Ability to work well and create consensus within a larger design team
- Experience providing honest feedback while being sensitive to an individual’s work