How To Become A Game Designer/Creative Director: What It Is and Career Path

What is a game designer/creative director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Abby Guido

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a game designer/creative director. For example, did you know that they make an average of $33.59 an hour? That's $69,870 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 6,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a game designer/creative director?

Abby Guido

Assistant Professor, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University

We've all heard the buzz about networking, and there is so much buzz because it works. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is both up to date and active. Connect with all of your past professors, classmates, and anyone and everyone you meet in a professional setting. I often tell students to get into the habit of searching for any classroom guests, or guest lecturers, to connect, thank them for their time, and build their network. Share content. Write articles, or reshare those you find interesting.

Every job I have ever received in my career has been through someone else I know. I share this with students to help them see the value in relationships. I always remember the students that took the time to write a handwritten thank-you note. And I think of them when I get an email asking if I know any students are looking for work.

ScoreGame Designer/Creative DirectorUS Average

Salary

5.5

Avg. Salary $69,870

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.2

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.37%

Asian 10.42%

Black or African American 3.42%

Hispanic or Latino 10.63%

Unknown 4.99%

White 70.17%

Gender

female 15.38%

male 84.62%

Age - 37

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37

Stress level

4.2

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.9

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a game designer/creative director

Explore game designer/creative director education requirements

Most common game designer/creative director degrees

Bachelor's

90.9 %

Master's

4.5 %

Certificate

4.5 %

Start to develop specific game designer/creative director skills

Skills	Percentages
Concept Art	29.83%
Design Process	19.72%
Creative Direction	16.42%
UI	12.10%
Art Direction	11.82%

Complete relevant game designer/creative director training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New game designer/creative directors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a game designer/creative director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real game designer/creative director resumes.

Research game designer/creative director duties and responsibilities

Manage game design, art, and UI teams on Zynga poker.
Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with senior management.
Assist in game design, art, QA, and other areas as needed.
Specialize in artistic design for companies and design artwork using Nedgraphics software and Photoshop.

Apply for game designer/creative director jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a game designer/creative director job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams