What does a level designer do?
A level designer is an expert at designing and developing gameplays, including its characters and obstacles. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with the creative and development teams, conceptualizing plans and diagrams, performing extensive research and analysis, studying client feedback and current market trends, constructing prototypes, and performing tests to ensure the efficiency of the game. Furthermore, as a level designer, it is essential to monitor the entire production process, coordinating with staff every step of the way for quality end products.
Level designer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real level designer resumes:
- Produce unique concepts and designs on CATIA of never before achieve mechanisms and body components, which are patented by CHRYSLER.
- Tune the complex oracle SQL.
- Design game play for puzzle and combat levels.
- Programme in Java for development of mature prototype.
- Develop modular building sets for use in quick prototyping.
- Implement the SQL loader to retrieve the date from files.
- Develop highly complex and efficient ETL logics in oracle pl/sql.
- Modele in Maya, texture, lit, and animate in UDK.
- Design level, combat events, and game's first boss battle.
- Lead yoga classes for all skill levels, from beginning to advance.
- Learned design principles and tools, including the implementation of script content using LUA
- Modele and design and texture 3D assets and environments for VR experience game.
- Modele, texture and lit scene elements in Maya then composite in Photoshop.
- Balance economies, collectibles, and XP gate systems for Facebook games and prototypes.
- Develop and maintain documentation; fiction, mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
Level designer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Level Designers are proficient in Unreal Engine, Unity, and Maya. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Artistic ability, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Level Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Unreal Engine, 11%
Level designer when using the Unreal Engine.
- Unity, 10%
Utilize Unity to develop game levels that meet established specifications.
- Maya, 10%
Researched cities and landmarks to find landmarks and skyscrapers Designed levels for Pota-Toss in Autodesk Maya based on research
- Lua, 6%
Designed and implemented level layouts, puzzles, and traps using the LUA script language.
- CAD, 6%
Provided CAD design support, modeling and 3D rendering for commercial/residential architectural efforts in a lead designer/supervisory position.
- PC, 5%
Worked as Lead designer for Spider-Man 2 (PC).
Most level designers use their skills in "unreal engine," "unity," and "maya" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential level designer responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a level designer to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "graphic designers must be able to perceive their work from their consumers’ point of view to ensure that the designs convey the client’s message." Level designers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "experience in the entire motion capture process, from equipment setups and finishing up with cleaning the data for animation process. "
Artistic ability. Another essential skill to perform level designer duties is artistic ability. Level designers responsibilities require that "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." Level designers also use artistic ability in their role according to a real resume snippet: "used trello to communicate and coordinate with a team of 4 artists regarding the artistic and ui needs of the game. "
Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of level designers is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday level designer duties, as "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff. "
Computer skills. level designer responsibilities often require "computer skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." This resume example shows what level designers do with computer skills on a typical day: "develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, pipe routings, using computer-assisted drafting (cad) equipment. "
Creativity. Another crucial skill for a level designer to carry out their responsibilities is "creativity." A big part of what level designers relies on this skill, since "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." How this skill relates to level designer duties can be seen in an example from a level designer resume snippet: "designed ui system displaying weapons/health/inventory/gear and active level using c# and unity. "
Time-management skills. Another skill commonly found on level designer job descriptions is "time-management skills." It can come up quite often in level designer duties, since "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day level designer responsibilities: "managed qa and drove testing plans, which delivered a high quality product on time. "
The three companies that hire the most level designers are:
- Gensler30 level designers jobs
- Sargent & Lundy8 level designers jobs
- ZeniMax Media8 level designers jobs
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Compare different level designers
Level designer vs. Graphic designer/production
A Graphics Designer in production is the person in charge of designing and interpreting ideas pointed out by the client or the company. The graphics designer must use market standard applications and techniques to produce attention-grabbing designs intended to market a product, service, or company. Graphic designers are an integral part of a company's digital marketing, especially over the internet. The graphic designer must have a good eye for style, typesetting, and the use of colors.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a level designer are more likely to require skills like "unreal engine," "unity," "maya," and "c #." On the other hand, a job as a graphic designer/production requires skills like "graphic design," "adobe illustrator," "adobe indesign," and "signage." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Graphic designer/productions tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $59,531. In contrast, level designers make the biggest average salary, $93,262, in the technology industry.On average, graphic designer/productions reach similar levels of education than level designers. Graphic designer/productions are 2.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Level designer vs. Graphic designer, marketing
A graphic designer of marketing specializes in developing creative imagery as part of a company's marketing efforts. Their responsibilities typically revolve around coordinating with the marketing team to share insights and strategies, conceptualizing designs in adherence to objectives and deadlines, and preparing presentations. One may also subject designs into various revisions and edits as needed. Furthermore, as a graphic designer, it is also essential to keep abreast of the latest trends and have an understanding of the target audience.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that level designer responsibilities requires skills like "unreal engine," "unity," "maya," and "c #." But a graphic designer, marketing might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "adobe creative suite," "brochures," "blog posts," and "graphic design."
On average, graphic designers, marketing earn a lower salary than level designers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, graphic designers, marketing earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $52,640. Whereas level designers have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $93,262.In general, graphic designers, marketing achieve similar levels of education than level designers. They're 1.9% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for level designers in the next 3-5 years?
Michelle Lockwood
Associate Professor, Graphic Design Art, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Level designer vs. Graphic designer internship
In a graphic design internship, one of the primary responsibilities is to accomplish tasks while under the supervision of more experienced colleagues. An aspiring graphic designer may use this opportunity to observe and participate in designing for various industries, handle different clients, participate in creative meetings, and learn strategies from experts. Furthermore, there may also be technical tasks involving research and analysis, gathering materials, coordinating with vendors, and producing reports and other necessary documentation. They may also be responsible for maintaining a database and responding to calls and inquires.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a level designer is likely to be skilled in "unreal engine," "unity," "maya," and "c #," while a typical graphic designer internship is skilled in "graphic design intern," "blog posts," "adobe creative suite," and "adobe illustrator."
Graphic designer interns earn the best pay in the professional industry, where they command an average salary of $41,614. Level designers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $93,262.graphic designer interns typically earn similar educational levels compared to level designers. Specifically, they're 3.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Level designer vs. Motion graphics designer
A motion graphic designer specializes in producing artworks used in television, film, and web. Their responsibilities often revolve around submitting within a deadline, attending creative meetings, collaborating with fellow designers, following directives from clients, producing trial designs, and editing them in adherence to senior designers or clients' recommendations. There are also instances when a motion graphic designer must manage documentation, address inquiries and concerns, and report to higher-ranking personnel. Furthermore, one may choose to work for a company or independently.
Types of level designer
Updated January 8, 2025
