NSXNational Skills ExchangeSign in
Back to Framework

Video Game Designers

SOC 15-1255.01Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers video game design practice from supervised entry-level contributions through executive creative leadership, spanning gameplay mechanics, documentation, balance, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic franchise direction within professional game development studios.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Core game features such as basic storylines and character biographies — draft under direct supervision using established templates for an entry-level game design project.
  2. Design level documentation including mechanics outlines and mission summaries — compile and format following team guidelines with close oversight from a senior designer.
  3. Gameplay flowcharts and sample menu layouts — produce using graphics software under direction to support formal game design documentation.
  4. Missions and puzzles for in-game scenarios — brainstorm and propose in supervised team sessions, applying foundational knowledge of role-play mechanics.
  5. Feedback from design and technical staff — gather and log using project management tools during structured review meetings under senior guidance.
  6. Gameplay balance issues — recognize and flag to lead designers during playtesting sessions on an assigned game module.
  7. Programming concepts and object-oriented development tools — apply at a basic level under supervision to prototype simple game interactions.
  8. Design review meetings — participate in by preparing written notes and mock-up screenshots using graphics software as directed by the team lead.
  9. Game design ideas — communicate clearly in written reports and verbal team briefings, drawing on foundational knowledge of English language and communications media.
  10. Version control and file versioning software — use under guidance to manage and submit design documents within a collaborative development environment.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Gameplay experiences for a defined game module — balance and adjust with reduced oversight by analyzing player feedback data and applying critical thinking within a mid-sized studio project.
  2. Missions, challenges, and puzzles — devise independently for assigned game sections, ensuring alignment with the broader game narrative and mechanical framework.
  3. Character biographies and role-play mechanics — develop routinely as part of a feature team, adapting established franchise conventions to new game contexts.
  4. Feedback from design and technical colleagues — solicit, organize, and integrate into iterative design revisions across multiple development sprints.
  5. Design level documentation including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines — maintain and update consistently throughout the development cycle using project management software.
  6. Design review sessions for an assigned game feature — conduct on a regular cadence, preparing agendas and tracking action items to resolution.
  7. Gameplay flowcharts and graphical design devices — create with proficiency in graphics and GUI development software to communicate design intent to cross-functional teams.
  8. Constructive feedback on game design features — provide to junior designers and peers with social perceptiveness and clear oral expression during collaborative critique sessions.
  9. Time and task priorities across concurrent design assignments — manage effectively using project management tools within an established studio production pipeline.
  10. Systems analysis of game mechanics — perform to identify unintended interactions or balance gaps, proposing evidence-based solutions for lead designer review.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. End-to-end game design for a full title or major franchise installment — lead autonomously, integrating storylines, mechanics, and character arcs into a coherent, commercially viable experience.
  2. Complex gameplay balance problems spanning multiple interconnected systems — resolve independently through iterative playtesting, data analysis, and decisive design judgment.
  3. Non-routine design challenges such as novel gameplay genres or adaptive difficulty systems — address by applying originality, deductive reasoning, and deep knowledge of player psychology.
  4. Comprehensive formal game design documentation including mock-ups, flowcharts, and technical specifications — author and own across the full project lifecycle without supervisory review.
  5. Cross-disciplinary design and technical staff feedback cycles — orchestrate and synthesize, ensuring design integrity is maintained from concept through final release.
  6. Regular design reviews at the project level — facilitate with authority, evaluating creative and technical trade-offs and driving consensus among designers, engineers, and producers.
  7. Advanced programming and component-oriented development tools — apply with fluency to prototype, test, and validate complex game systems within the studio's technical environment.
  8. Design communication across written design briefs, spoken presentations, and visual documentation — deliver with persuasion and precision to stakeholders including producers and platform partners.
  9. Emerging game design trends, technologies, and player behavior research — evaluate continuously through active learning to inform current and future project decisions.
  10. Studio-wide design documentation standards and process guidelines — define, implement, and refine to ensure consistency and quality across all active game projects.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Strategic vision for game design philosophy across an entire studio or franchise portfolio — set and articulate, aligning creative direction with commercial objectives and organizational culture.
  2. Gameplay balance and systems design methodologies — establish at an organizational scale, defining evaluation frameworks that teams apply consistently across multiple simultaneous titles.
  3. Senior and mid-level game designers — mentor and develop through structured feedback, design critique sessions, and career growth planning within a large studio environment.
  4. Complex creative and technical trade-off decisions affecting budget, schedule, and product quality — make with authority, leveraging deep judgment and cross-functional organizational influence.
  5. Studio-level design review governance — lead by instituting review cadences, quality gates, and escalation protocols that govern the full game development lifecycle.
  6. Cross-organizational feedback ecosystems involving design, engineering, marketing, and executive stakeholders — architect and steward to ensure iterative improvement across all product lines.
  7. Innovative game concepts and genre-defining mechanics — champion by cultivating an organizational culture of intellectual curiosity, psychological insight, and player-centric design thinking.
  8. Industry-wide design knowledge — contribute to through conference presentations, published design analyses, and participation in professional communities, elevating the organization's external reputation.
  9. Enterprise-scale design toolchains including integrated development environments, database systems, and web platform technologies — evaluate and adopt strategically to increase team velocity and design quality.
  10. Long-range game franchise and IP roadmaps — develop and own in collaboration with executive leadership, translating creative pillars into multi-year product and resource strategies.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

A 4-level framework describing how a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline. Subscribe for $19.99/mo to read the full framework — or sign in if you have a subscription.

  1. Emerging
  2. Developing
  3. Proficient
  4. Advanced
Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library

Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency levels for this occupation. Subscribe to unlock the full Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework across all 1,016 occupations.

Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library
Show O*NET source anchors59 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

Suggest an O*NET correction

Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Computer Game Designer · Computer Video Game Designer · Concept Artist · Content Creator · Design Director · Designer · Environment Artist · Environmental Artist · Game Design Consultant · Game Designer · Game Developer · Game Engineer
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
ProgrammingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningSystems AnalysisTime ManagementSystems EvaluationWritingCoordinationSpeakingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessPersuasionNegotiationOperations AnalysisTechnology Design
Knowledge domains
DesignComputers and ElectronicsCommunications and MediaPsychologyMathematicsEnglish Language
Abilities
Fluency of IdeasWritten ComprehensionOriginalityNear VisionInformation OrderingOral ComprehensionWritten ExpressionOral ExpressionProblem SensitivityDeductive Reasoning
Work styles
InnovationIntellectual CuriosityAdaptabilityAchievement OrientationDependabilityCooperation
Technology
Graphics or photo imaging softwareDevelopment environment softwareVideo creation and editing softwareObject or component oriented development softwareProject management softwareData base user interface and query softwareEnterprise application integration softwareFile versioning softwareGraphical user interface development softwareWeb platform development software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
  2. Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
  3. Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.
  4. Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.
  5. Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
  6. Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
  7. Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.
  8. Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
CIP education codes
09.070211.010111.010411.010511.020111.040111.070111.080111.100430.310150.040150.040952.1404

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.