Prototyping
Game Designers commonly collaborate on prototypes during development.
Evidence to prepare
- Choose a prototype you helped develop. Note your contribution, the decisions you made, the result and what you learnt.
Role guide
Game Design Interview Preparation
Updated 31 August 2026
Two limited examples show how a Game Designer interview may be structured. Mike McShaffry describes one experienced interviewer's process that begins with a phone screen covering background and work history, then moves into a design-analysis exercise during that interview. Interview Ignition's preparation model covers screening, deeper design scenarios and behavioural discussion, while noting that the number and format of stages vary by company.
01
How the interview usually works
These examples are not a standard sequence. Mike McShaffry describes one experienced interviewer's approach for a Game Designer, while Interview Ignition's three-stage model for Game Designer candidates is preparation guidance rather than a UK-wide standard.
Phone screening interview with design analysis
Phone screen
PossibleIn Mike McShaffry's process for a Game Designer, a phone screen covers the candidate's background and work history before moving into a design-analysis exercise within the same interview.
What they assess
How to prepare
- Prepare a concise account of your work history using truthful examples from your own experience.
- Practise explaining your reasoning in a clear order without memorising a script.
- When given an exercise, clarify anything unclear, state your assumptions and review your response before finishing.
Interview Ignition's preparation model for Game Designer candidates
Interview Ignition describes screening, deeper design scenarios and behavioural discussion for Game Designer candidates, but says the number and format of stages vary by company. This is preparation guidance, not a UK-wide standard.
02
Your preparation plan
Prepare your evidence
Read the job description and choose truthful examples that match the vacancy. Game Designers commonly define game elements, document concepts, collaborate on prototypes and revise specifications when development or playtesting reveals problems. During production, Game Designers also spend substantial time prototyping, testing and iterating rather than treating the first version as final, although studio size and design specialism affect the amount of hands-on implementation.
For each example, note the situation, your own actions, your reasoning, the result and what you learnt. Keep these notes short enough to scan before the interview instead of writing answers to recite.
The week before
- Read the job description again and mark the experience it asks you to discuss.
- Choose truthful examples of defining or documenting game elements, contributing to prototypes, or revising a specification after a problem emerged.
- Prepare an example of prototyping, testing and iterating on a design, making your own contribution clear.
- Practise concise answers that cover the situation, your actions, reasoning, result and learning.
- Rehearse analysing a design prompt aloud without assuming a particular scoring method.
The day before
- Confirm the time, location, contact details and any instructions you have received.
- If your interview is remote, test your camera, microphone, connection and interview link.
- Prepare permitted notes with short prompts for your examples and questions.
On the day
- Reread the brief and ask the named contact about any unclear arrangements.
- Listen to each question, clarify unclear terms and take a moment to organise your answer.
- For an exercise, state your assumptions, explain your reasoning and review your response before finishing.
03
What interviewers look for
Testing and iteration
During production, Game Designers spend substantial time testing and iterating on designs rather than treating the first version as final.
Evidence to prepare
- Identify a design you changed after testing. Record the original idea, your actions, the result and what you learnt.
Concept documentation
Typical Game Designer responsibilities include documenting concepts.
Evidence to prepare
- Select a concept you documented. Note your personal contribution, your reasoning and what happened next.
Specification revision
Game Designers typically revise specifications as development and playtesting reveal problems.
Evidence to prepare
- Choose a specification you revised. Note the problem, your actions, the outcome and what you learnt.
Defining game elements
Typical Game Designer responsibilities include defining game elements.
Evidence to prepare
- Choose a game element you helped define. Record your decisions, your contribution and the outcome.
04
Questions you should be ready for
Use the answer plans as prompts, not scripts. Your examples should sound like you.
Prototyping and testing
Use these questions to practise concise, evidence-based answers.
Tell me about a game design prototype you helped develop.
What they want to learn: The interviewer is looking for a clear account of your relevant experience and reasoning.
Answer plan
- Answer the question directly before adding context.
- Choose one truthful example from your own experience.
- Describe your personal actions and reasoning.
- Finish with the result and what you learned.
Evidence to use: Choose a truthful example from your own experience that directly answers this question.
Avoid
- Giving a generic answer without a specific example.
- Describing the team's work without making your contribution clear.
Describe a time when testing led you to revise a game design.
What they want to learn: The interviewer is looking for a clear account of your relevant experience and reasoning.
Answer plan
- Answer the question directly before adding context.
- Choose one truthful example from your own experience.
- Describe your personal actions and reasoning.
- Finish with the result and what you learned.
Evidence to use: Choose a truthful example from your own experience that directly answers this question.
Avoid
- Giving a generic answer without a specific example.
- Describing the team's work without making your contribution clear.
Concepts and specifications
Use these questions to practise concise, evidence-based answers.
Tell me about a game concept you documented for others to use.
What they want to learn: The interviewer is looking for a clear account of your relevant experience and reasoning.
Answer plan
- Answer the question directly before adding context.
- Choose one truthful example from your own experience.
- Describe your personal actions and reasoning.
- Finish with the result and what you learned.
Evidence to use: Choose a truthful example from your own experience that directly answers this question.
Avoid
- Giving a generic answer without a specific example.
- Describing the team's work without making your contribution clear.
Describe a specification you revised after development or playtesting revealed a problem.
What they want to learn: The interviewer is looking for a clear account of your relevant experience and reasoning.
Answer plan
- Answer the question directly before adding context.
- Choose one truthful example from your own experience.
- Describe your personal actions and reasoning.
- Finish with the result and what you learned.
Evidence to use: Choose a truthful example from your own experience that directly answers this question.
Avoid
- Giving a generic answer without a specific example.
- Describing the team's work without making your contribution clear.
Game elements and collaboration
Use these questions to practise concise, evidence-based answers.
Tell me about a game element you helped define.
What they want to learn: The interviewer is looking for a clear account of your relevant experience and reasoning.
Answer plan
- Answer the question directly before adding context.
- Choose one truthful example from your own experience.
- Describe your personal actions and reasoning.
- Finish with the result and what you learned.
Evidence to use: Choose a truthful example from your own experience that directly answers this question.
Avoid
- Giving a generic answer without a specific example.
- Describing the team's work without making your contribution clear.
Describe a time when you collaborated with others on a prototype.
What they want to learn: The interviewer is looking for a clear account of your relevant experience and reasoning.
Answer plan
- Answer the question directly before adding context.
- Choose one truthful example from your own experience.
- Describe your personal actions and reasoning.
- Finish with the result and what you learned.
Evidence to use: Choose a truthful example from your own experience that directly answers this question.
Avoid
- Giving a generic answer without a specific example.
- Describing the team's work without making your contribution clear.
05
Questions to ask them
“Which part of the game would this position work on first?”
This clarifies the immediate scope of the job and whether the work suits your interests.
“What would you want the successful candidate to achieve in their first six months?”
This gives you a clearer picture of the employer's early priorities.
“How does the team review and develop design ideas?”
This helps you understand how the team handles feedback and makes decisions.
“How is the design team organised?”
This clarifies where the position sits and who you would work with most closely.
“What is the most pressing design problem the team is working through?”
This may reveal the practical challenge awaiting the successful candidate.
“What are the next steps in the interview process?”
This confirms what remains and helps you prepare for a later stage.
06
On the day
In person
- Confirm the location, arrival instructions and named contact before travelling.
- Bring permitted notes and any materials the employer has requested.
- Arrive with enough time to settle, then review the job description and your chosen examples.
- Listen to the full question before answering. Ask for clarification if its scope is unclear.
Remote
- If your interview is remote, test your camera, microphone, connection and meeting link beforehand.
- Keep the meeting link, named contact and a backup contact method close at hand.
- Choose a quiet setting and place permitted notes where you can consult them easily.
- Close unrelated applications and silence notifications before joining.
07
Common mistakes
Starting an answer before checking what an unclear design prompt is asking.
Clarify the prompt, then state any assumptions before explaining your reasoning.
Talking about a team project entirely as "we".
Give the team context, then describe your own decisions, actions and contribution accurately.
Giving a long answer before identifying the question you need to solve.
State your interpretation first, ask for clarification if needed, then explain your reasoning.
Treating personal taste as sufficient evidence.
Separate your preference from your reasoning and explain what informed your judgement.
Memorising polished answers that do not fit the question asked.
Prepare truthful examples and their main facts, then adapt them to the question.
08
After the interview
Send a brief message thanking the interviewer for their time. Mention one specific part of the conversation and restate your interest without adding anything you did not discuss.
Record the questions while they are fresh. Note where your examples were clear and where you need a tighter explanation before another stage. If the employer gave a decision date, wait until it has passed before sending a concise factual enquiry.
09
Frequently asked questions
From guide to application
Make your CV and your answers tell the same story.
Use cvlift to tailor your CV to the role and bring the most relevant experience forward. Then use this guide to practise the examples behind it.