What does a senior game designer do?
As a senior game designer, your main objective is to create high-level graphical video games. You need to make sure that the games which you are designing are very much interactive and talk to the audience. As a game designer, you have to work closely with the top artists to create the effects for your video game. Working with programmers is also a part of this job. You need to make them understand the core components of your video game so that they can create the structure according to that.
You also need to make sure that the videogame that you design provides a balanced gameplay experience. You have to design the characters as well as the various components of the video game with high levels of precision and accuracy. You will be conceptualizing the characters and then prototyping new games one after the other.
Senior game designer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior game designer resumes:
- Produce unique concepts and designs on CATIA of never before achieve mechanisms and body components, which are patented by CHRYSLER.
- Direct devs (client and server) to create quality gameplay features for the IP.
- Initial prototyping and implementation of many of its game core play mechanics on their proprietary tool.
- Handle all aspects of design including writing all the design documents, making UI mockups, charting user flows, etc.
- Plan and implement combat encounters.
- Develop UX wireframes for products using creative applications.
- Interface closely with animation team to maintain integrity of mechanics.
- Design, documentation, and implementation of combat mechanics and enemy/boss behavior and interaction.
- Research and development into cross-platform mobile development, focusing on rapid application prototyping and development.
- Collaborate with art director and animation lead to craft visuals supporting unique elements distinguishing archetypes from each other.
- Work with UDK to design levels and scripts in C++.
- Modele majority of 3D assets in the game and import them to UDK.
Senior game designer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Senior Game Designers are proficient in Unity, Animation, and AAA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Artistic ability, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Game Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Unity, 11%
Designed and implemented a virtual hint system with Unity for escape rooms.
- Animation, 8%
Created container objective object with opening animation.
- AAA, 8%
Designed new casual games by blending classic childhood games with modern game rules from AAA titles.
- Prototyping, 6%
Initial prototyping and implementation of many of its game core play mechanics on their proprietary tool.
- UI, 6%
Outlined UI flow using MS Excel in order to quickly make changes and additions as needed during the development process.
- Game Mechanics, 6%
Designed and implemented numerous successful game mechanics.
Common skills that a senior game designer uses to do their job include "unity," "animation," and "aaa." You can find details on the most important senior game designer responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a senior game 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." Senior game designers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "managed the bug tracking database for the entire design team. "
Artistic ability. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling senior game designer duties is artistic ability. The role rewards competence in this skill because "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." According to a senior game designer resume, here's how senior game designers can utilize artistic ability in their job responsibilities: "used trello to communicate and coordinate with a team of 4 artists regarding the artistic and ui needs of the game. "
Communication skills. senior game designers are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to senior game designer responsibilities, because "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." A senior game designer resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with senior management. "
Computer skills. senior game 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 senior game 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. A commonly-found skill in senior game designer job descriptions, "creativity" is essential to what senior game designers do. Senior game designer responsibilities rely on this skill because "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." You can also see how senior game designer duties rely on creativity in this resume example: "provided feedback to production staff regarding technical and creative game content. "
Time-management skills. Lastly, "time-management skills" is an important element of what a senior game designer does. Senior game designer responsibilities require this skill because "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." This resume example highlights how senior game designer duties rely on this skill: "managed qa and drove testing plans, which delivered a high quality product on time. "
The three companies that hire the most senior game designers are:
- Amazon4 senior game designers jobs
- Electronic Arts4 senior game designers jobs
- Riot Games4 senior game designers jobs
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Compare different senior game designers
Senior game designer vs. Video game creator
A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences. Designers are creative thinkers with a great eye to configure the skeletal and structural properties of the targeted output. They work in several fields, such as fashion, architecture, web graphics, and user experience. In spite of the variety of professionals in the design industry, all of them are artistic, passionate, inspiring, and emotionally connected to their projects and brands.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, senior game designer responsibilities require skills like "unity," "aaa," "prototyping," and "ui." Meanwhile a typical video game creator has skills in areas such as "video content," "youtube," "una," and "adobe premiere." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, video game creators reach similar levels of education than senior game designers. Video game creators are 3.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior game designer vs. Designer
A lead designer is responsible for addressing the clients' needs of digital content and coordinating with the design team for the planning and innovation of the visual design and concept. Lead designers conduct the initial layout of frameworks and collaborate with the art staff for the specifications and outputs using various software applications and digital boards. They regularly update the client of the project's status, including adjustment and design recommendations, ensuring that the plan meets the client's budget goals. A lead designer must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on running diagnostic tests to improve optimal performance.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that senior game designer responsibilities requires skills like "unity," "animation," "aaa," and "prototyping." But a designer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "sketch," "customer service," "graphic design," and "css."
On average, designers earn a lower salary than senior game designers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, designers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $87,754. Whereas senior game designers have higher pay in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $115,013.In general, designers achieve similar levels of education than senior game designers. They're 1.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior game designer vs. Video game developer
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a senior game designer is likely to be skilled in "unity," "prototyping," "ui," and "game mechanics," while a typical video game developer is skilled in "video content," "r," "windows," and "game engine."
Video game developers typically earn similar educational levels compared to senior game designers. Specifically, they're 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior game designer vs. Lead designer
Types of senior game designer
Updated January 8, 2025
