Important:
Location: Must be based in the UK or Europe. Applicants outside these regions will not be
considered.
Visa Sponsorship: Not available at this time. Applicants must be eligible to work in their
current country of residence.
Application Requirements: Submit your CV in .pdf format only and a portfolio showcasing your work.
About Us: Since 2015, ZA/UM Studio has been at the forefront of artistic achievement within the video games industry.
Driven by a commitment to video games as an art form and endless intellectual curiosity, we are now a studio with a portfolio of projects and a global team of over 75 people.
We are committed to creating narrative-driven games that challenge the boundaries of art and storytelling. We do not shy away from social commentary or challenging industry conventions. The foundation of our artistic pursuits is collective creativity, we view teamwork and camaraderie as essential.
Key Responsibilities:
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Lead the development and ongoing refinement of the studio's overarching design vision, ensuring alignment with our creative goals across all projects. Supporting narrative across each of our projects, your guidance will help the studio to shape memorable and impactful storytelling.
- Manage the design department's budget, allocate resources efficiently, and make informed decisions regarding hiring or outsourcing design talent to meet project needs.
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Offer clear and inspiring direction to design teams, overseeing the development of gameplay mechanics, level design, and interactive elements that reflect our studio's creative vision. Champion creation of user-friendly interfaces, controls, and player interactions to provide players with a smooth and intuitive gaming experience.
- Provide mentorship, guidance, and leadership to our talented design teams, fostering their professional growth and ensuring they deliver their best work. Your role includes nurturing the skills and creativity of our design professionals in collaborative cross-discipline teams.
- Foster seamless collaboration with other departments, including narrative, art, engineering, audio and publishing, to ensure that design and gameplay elements merge harmoniously into the overall game experience.
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Encourage innovation in game design, mechanics, and storytelling, constantly exploring new ideas and technologies together with your colleagues from other disciplines to captivate and astonish players.
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Gather and analyse player feedback through playtesting sessions and user research, translating insights into actionable design improvements that elevate our games. Collaborate closely with QA teams to identify and address design-related issues, bugs, or gameplay imbalances during development, ensuring top-notch quality in our releases.
Qualifications:
- Proven experience as a Design Director or highly experienced Senior Lead Designer in the video game industry.
- A portfolio showcasing innovative game designs and successful projects.
- A deep understanding of narrative-driven role-playing games and the ability to create gameplay experiences that resonate with players.
- Strong leadership and communication skills with a focus on mentoring and nurturing design teams to work collaboratively with other disciplines.
- A passionate commitment to exploring art as a form of social commentary and pushing the boundaries of interactive storytelling.
- Knowledge of the latest design tools, trends and technologies in the industry.
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A collaborative spirit that thrives in a dynamic and creative environment.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary from a Living Wage Accredited employer.
- Opportunities for career advancement and professional development.
- Flexible hybrid work model allowing for remote work with occasional in-person meetings as required.
- Private medical and dental insurance.
- Studio closure over the holiday period.
- Industry-leading parental leave policies and childcare support.
