What makes good game design?
What makes good game design, to me, is the ability to shape an experience with intention. I am interested in how games can do more than entertain. They can challenge players, create memorable moments, encourage reflection, and make complex ideas easier to engage with through play. I think the best design comes from understanding the kind of experience you want the player to have, then building systems, feedback, and structure that support that experience clearly and consistently.
Who is Nicholas?
I am a game designer focused on systems design, gameplay structure, UX thinking, and iterative development. I am currently completing a Bachelor of Game Development at AIE Institute, where I have built experience across solo and team projects in strategy, RTS, puzzle, tower defence, and action design.
My work centres on turning design ideas into clear, playable experiences. I enjoy building and refining core mechanics, documenting systems, supporting prototype development, and using playtesting and feedback to improve how a game feels and functions. I have worked with tools including Unreal Engine, Unity, HacknPlan, Jira, Figma, GitHub, Microsoft Teams, and Discord.
I am particularly interested in creating games with strong structure, readable interfaces, and mechanics that reward player decision-making. My skill set includes systems design, level design, game documentation, UX evaluation, QA planning, structured playtesting, and cross-discipline collaboration.
My definable skills
Systems design
Designing gameplay systems, progression, and mechanics with clarity and balance in mind.
Documentation and planning
Producing clear game design documentation, task structures, and development workflows.
QA and playtesting
Building test cases, organising feedback, and translating findings into practical design improvements.
UX and interface thinking
Improving readability, usability, and player understanding through interface and interaction design.
Prototype development support
Working across design, implementation planning, and iteration to help bring concepts into polished prototypes.
FAQs
What kind of games do you want to work on?
I am particularly interested in strategy, RTS, puzzle, tower defence, and action games. I enjoy projects where player decision-making, systems depth, and clear gameplay structure are central to the experience.
What are your strongest areas as a game designer?
My strongest areas are systems design, game design documentation, UX evaluation, structured playtesting, and iterative refinement. I am especially interested in shaping clear mechanics, readable player experiences, and practical workflows that help a project move from concept to polished prototype.
How do you approach good game design?
I see good game design as intentional and player-focused. A strong game gives players clarity, meaningful choices, and a sense that the systems, feedback, and structure all support the experience the game is trying to create. For me, good design is not just about ideas, but about how well those ideas are communicated through play.
What tools do you work with?
I have worked with Unreal Engine, Unity, Jira, HacknPlan, GitHub, Figma, Python, Microsoft Teams, and Discord. I use these tools to support design documentation, prototyping, planning, collaboration, UI work, and testing workflows.
Do you prefer solo work or team-based development?
I am comfortable with both. Solo work helps me take ownership of design decisions and structure, while team-based development is where I can collaborate across design, programming, art, and testing to refine ideas and support a stronger overall result. Much of my project experience has involved working in team environments with shared planning, feedback, and iteration.
What do you bring to a team?
I bring a structured and collaborative approach. I am comfortable with documentation, planning, feedback triage, usability thinking, and communicating design intent clearly. I also value professionalism, diplomacy, and steady iteration, which helps when working across disciplines and responding to critique.
People I have had the pleasure working with
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Interested in my skills?
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