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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design team to create unforgettable gaming experiences for millions.
- Company: Join Creative Assembly, a leader in game development with a passion for player experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, enhanced holidays, and comprehensive health benefits.
- Why this job: Shape the future of gaming with your creative vision on a highly anticipated sequel.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in game design and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Hybrid role with opportunities for professional growth and a vibrant studio culture.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Join Creative Assembly and craft deep and detailed games that last, entertaining millions of players across the globe for decades.
The Role
Creative Assembly is looking for an experienced Design Director to join the team working on the sequel to Alien: Isolation to create unforgettable game experiences on this new project. This will be based at our studio in Horsham, in the heart of West Sussex. Working closely with the Executive Producer and the Creative Director, the Design Director will focus on delivering the Creative Vision and help direct the development of the game collaborating with the other discipline directors as well as mentoring and directing the design team on the project. This is a hybrid role, requiring a minimum of 2 days per week on-site at our Horsham studio. We reserve the right to adjust hybrid working arrangements in line with business needs.
What you’ll be doing
- Report to the Executive Producer; define, champion, realise the Creative Vision working closely with the Creative Director to ensure its contemporary appeal
- Deliver a game that evolves through innovative gameplay experiences but stays true to the original
- Direct a team of Lead and Senior Designers and external developers
- Help define and deliver a long-term roadmap and scope an ambitious multi-year release plan for the project
- Establish/Direct the implementation of the design while adhering to challenging deadlines
- Manage a process that justifies and proves design ideas (wherever possible through prototypes). Encourage a team mindset of resolution and forward-thinking
- Champion the player experience
- Liaise confidently with studio management and external stakeholders.
- Represent the team and the studio internationally with publishing and IP partners
What we are looking for
Essential- A deep understanding of traditional and contemporary gameplay mechanics, experience drivers and business models across a variety of genres and platforms
- A feel for the appeal of survival games and ideas on how to develop that appeal
- Awareness of current market trends and an opinion on how gamer demands will evolve
- A confident manager with an inclusive approach, leading the way and owning the design while inspiring and championing ideas from others
- Strong communicator with the ability to describe and explain game experiences clearly verbally, and in writing
- The confidence and ability to translate a desired player experience into well-defined and appropriately scoped game mechanics, systems and features
- The ability to distil desired complex emotional and psychological behaviours into specific communicable design goals
- The ability and desire to use player analytics to inform future design decisions.
- Experience directing a design, or a significant part of a design, on a AAA game
- Experience having widened or developed the appeal of a game beyond an existing genre
- Delivered a game against a hard deadline.
- Good understanding the IP we are working with
About Creative Assembly
We care deeply about the experiences we create and put our players at the heart of our decisions. We are all game makers; no matter our role we are empowered to make significant contributions to our games, supported by skills development and growth opportunities. We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:
- Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply such as VISAs)
- Enhanced holiday allowance, maternity and paternity breaks, flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidays
- Private medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screening
- Additional benefits ranging from free games and work parties to discount on technology
- Wellbeing support and virtual confidential counselling
We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief. Our studio sites have disabled access.
Game Design Director employer: SEGA
Contact Detail:
SEGA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Game Design Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks at events or online. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or be looking for someone just like you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion! When you get that interview, let your enthusiasm for game design shine through. Talk about your favourite games and how they inspire your work – it’ll make you memorable!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky questions! Think about how you’d tackle challenges in game design and be ready to share your thought process. It’s all about showing how you can contribute to the team’s creative vision.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Game Design Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Game Design: When you're writing your application, let your love for game design shine through! Share specific examples of games that inspire you and how they influence your vision. We want to see your creativity and enthusiasm for crafting unforgettable experiences.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the role of Game Design Director. Highlight your experience with gameplay mechanics and your understanding of survival games. We’re looking for someone who can connect their past work to our current project, so make those links clear!
Be Clear and Concise: While we love a good story, keep your application focused and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and how they relate to the role. Remember, we want to understand your skills and vision without wading through too much fluff!
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 gives you a chance to explore more about Creative Assembly and what we stand for!
How to prepare for a job interview at SEGA
✨Know Your Game Mechanics
Make sure you have a solid grasp of both traditional and contemporary gameplay mechanics. Be ready to discuss how these can evolve in the context of survival games, especially in relation to the sequel to Alien: Isolation. Show your understanding of what makes a game engaging and how you can apply that knowledge.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Design Director, you'll be leading a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed design teams in the past. Highlight your inclusive approach and how you've inspired others to contribute their ideas while keeping the project on track.
✨Stay Current with Market Trends
Research current market trends and gamer demands. Be prepared to share your insights on how these trends might evolve and how they could influence the design of the game. This shows that you're not just a designer but also a strategic thinker who understands the industry.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice articulating your design ideas clearly, both verbally and in writing. You may need to explain complex concepts or emotional experiences during the interview, so being able to distil these into understandable terms is crucial. Consider preparing a few key points or examples to illustrate your communication skills.