Do you want to be a game UI designer? Do you have perseverance and the potential to become a professional? This article has tips that will make your path toward becoming a game UI designer much easier. You don’t need any special qualifications or skills to become a game UI designer, despite what some articles may try and tell you. It is an extremely in-demand field with many opportunities for growth, meaning it’s worth taking on if you’re willing to put in the work. This article is for those who are considering a future in-game UI design and may be a bit unsure about where to start. So, let’s begin!
What is UI Design?
A game’s user interface is the collection of menus, maps, buttons, and any other visual that the player can interact with. It is an essential part of the gaming experience as it presents much of what the player needs to know before proceeding with the game. User interface design (UI) is not just limited to games. It is a very broad field with many areas that can be explored. You could get involved in UI design for social media apps, websites, books, or mobile applications. Nowadays, it’s such an important part of the gaming world that the majority of games are made without developers having to develop their own assets for their menus and maps.
What are the Tips for Becoming a Game UI Designer?
1. Head to the Website of Major Game Companies
This is perhaps one of the most important suggestions in this article. When you see an advertisement for a job or internship at an organization, first check out the website of that company. Do some research on who’s behind the company and what their values are. Read their ‘About’ section, look at their mission statement, and see what values they promote. A company is much more likely to hire you if you have a good understanding of what they do and what their goals are. You can get a good idea by visiting the websites of major game companies in your area – don’t restrict yourself to just the big ones in your country, try looking for some internationally as well!
2. Make Sure You’re Dedicated
This can’t be stressed enough – if you’re not dedicated, then game UI design probably isn’t for you. It is an extremely competitive field that requires an enormous amount of effort and perseverance to break into. You’ll have to work hard to prove yourself every step of the way, and it’s more than likely that you will be working in an unpaid capacity for a long time before getting paid for your efforts. If you have the dedication to try and persevere with it, then game UI design can be a very rewarding career.
3. Remain Creatively Honest
This is another one that can’t be stressed enough. Game UI designers need to have a good sense of creativity and they also need to remain honest with their own ideas whilst communicating effectively with other members of the team. It is extremely important for them to be able to visualize their ideas in their own mind and make sure that any feedback from others is taken on board and incorporated into the design of the UI. It’s also important to develop a good understanding of what other designers are doing, as communication is key!
4. Learn Programming
You can’t be a game UI designer without being able to program. This is perhaps one of the most important steps you can take to get into game UI design. You may be able to design a menu without programming it, but you’ll quickly run into issues when there’s a bug in it or you want to add something new. If you want to really break into game UI design and start making a name for yourself as a designer, then learning how to program is essential.
5. Learn Design
This is the most important advice you’ll get, in my opinion. Take advantage of as many design courses as you can find and websites that teach you about design for games. Don’t just rely on what you learn about UI design from a book – learn how to integrate all of your ideas when designing the UI. How do you make a good map? How do you know what works and what doesn’t work in terms of design? All these things come with experience!
6. Get Good at Communicating with Others!
Communication is very important in in-game UI design. You’ll be working with a tight-knit team and you’ll need to be able to clearly communicate your ideas to all members of that team, in order to come up with the best solution. You may also have to take feedback on board if you’re working with other designers. Be able to take criticism and use it to develop your ideas!
7. Be Innovative and Creative!
This is perhaps one of the most important things that you’ll need in order to become a game UI designer. You’ll be designing all sorts of things from game maps, buttons, and menus to websites, mobile applications, and many more. It’s all about getting creative, being innovative with your ideas, and making something that stands out. Just don’t be too ahead of the game and try to be unique for the sake of being unique.
8. Make Sure You Practice
Practice makes everything perfect! That’s something we’ve all heard from a young age, so why should it be any different in-game UI design? Practice will help you quickly identify what works and doesn’t work for you when designing a user interface. You can then take this advice and try out new things that you wouldn’t have thought of otherwise. Practice makes perfect!
Conclusion
There you have it – eight tips to help you on your way to becoming a game UI designer. Remember, there are many ways to achieve this goal. It’s not just about following the tips listed here, as there are many other things to consider. The key is to just get started! Don’t wait for the ‘perfect opportunity’ or for the ‘right time‘.
