At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead design quality and delivery for exciting game projects, shaping player experiences.
- Company: Radical Forge, a creative game developer based in Middlesbrough.
- Benefits: Fully remote role with a focus on personal growth and team collaboration.
- Why this job: Join a passionate team and make a real impact in the gaming industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in design leadership, Unity/Unreal, and strong communication skills.
- Other info: Opportunity to work on AAA and indie titles with a talented team.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Radical Forge is a Middlesbrough, UK-based developer that has provided co‐development services on a range of AAA and indie titles. Since its beginnings in 2017, the company has grown to over 60 talented, collaborative, and creative individuals. We created the original IP 'Bright Paw', published on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One/Series S/X and iOS by Rogue Games, and are currently working on our newest IP, Southfield.
Your Mission
- Design leadership – Take ownership of overall quality and delivery of all aspects of Design, including 3Cs & game feel, systems, features, & mechanics, narrative and genre. Own and define design deliverables, quality, and player experience – delegating appropriately to achieve outcomes.
- Delivery of work – Set team priorities, assign tasks and delegate work; taking into consideration project/product priorities and individual growth and development. Proactively collaborate with producer and team to create a realistic and achievable feature set.
- Key communicator – Consistently create, update, and share key design information to support project teams across disciplines via documentation, presentations, talks and updates.
- Leadership/people management – Act as a role model for Radical Forge behaviours and be a skillful leader of people and projects. Line‐manage Lead designers to provide guidance, quality feedback, and support their progression as well as the quality of design work across the organisation.
- External stakeholder management and BD support – Lead and/or support the development of pitch decks, prototypes, and RFPs. Build strong relationships with external partners and publishers.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Implementation within Unity & Unreal Engines
- Rapid design/paper design
- 3Cs and game feel
- Systems, Features, & Mechanics
- Adaptive, communication skills, written & spoken
- Version control (Perforce)
- Task management & delegation (Jira)
- Pitching
- Mentoring
- Team building and team leadership
- External stakeholder management / experienced working for external publishers
- Previously demonstrated the capability to work with external partners and publishers, effective stakeholder management skills, a proven understanding of the business development process and how design and production support this.
- Demonstrated the ability to lead design teams across multiple genres.
- Has depth of experience leading design through all phases of development, from prototyping, pre‐production, production, launch and live service.
This role is fully remote within the UK. We will require all applicants to have a pre‐existing right to work in the UK.
Equal Opportunities Promise
All employment decisions are made without regard to race, colour, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status or veteran status. We will also consider employment for qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law.
Seniority level Director
Employment type Full-time
Job function Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology
Industries Computer Games
Head of Design in London employer: Radical Forge
Contact Detail:
Radical Forge Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Design in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend game design meetups, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! Make sure it’s up-to-date and highlights your best work. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, be ready to discuss your projects and how they relate to the role of Head of Design.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching Radical Forge and their games. Understand their design philosophy and be ready to share how your experience aligns with their mission. Tailor your answers to show you’re the perfect fit for their team!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Design in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Design: When you're writing your application, let your love for design shine through! Share specific examples of projects you've worked on and how they reflect your creative vision. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role and the industry!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to fit the Head of Design role at Radical Forge. Highlight your experience with game feel, systems, and mechanics, and how you can lead a team effectively. We appreciate when candidates take the time to align their skills with our needs.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon unless it's relevant. We value communication skills, so make sure your written application reflects that by being easy to read and understand.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Radical Forge!
How to prepare for a job interview at Radical Forge
✨Know Your Design Fundamentals
Before the interview, brush up on the core principles of design, especially the 3Cs (Character, Camera, Controls) and game feel. Be ready to discuss how you’ve applied these in past projects and how they can enhance player experience.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership and people management skills. Think about times when you successfully delegated tasks or mentored team members, and be ready to share how you foster collaboration and growth within a design team.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating your ideas and design concepts clearly. Since communication is key in this role, consider preparing a brief presentation on a past project, focusing on how you managed stakeholder relationships and communicated design deliverables.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Tools and Processes
Make sure you’re comfortable discussing tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, Jira, and Perforce. Be prepared to explain how you’ve used these in your previous roles to manage tasks and collaborate effectively with teams and external partners.