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Level Design Resources is a weekly series I share on LinkedIn, where I recommend books, playlists, links, and tips on level design. Think of it as a bite-sized newsletter delivering valuable insights, with resources to dive deeper into each topic.
The idea sparked from a simple realization:
While talking to some mid-level designers, I was shocked to learn that none of them knew about the Trello Level Design Compendium. That inspired me to make a post just to share the link. To my surprise, the post went viral.
While talking to some mid-level designers, I was shocked to learn that none of them knew about the Trello Level Design Compendium. That inspired me to make a post just to share the link. To my surprise, the post went viral.
That’s when it hit me: there’s a huge audience of designers eager for curated, practical knowledge. So, I decided to turn it into a weekly habit, helping designers discover the best resources out there.
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15. Maps, Maps and Mapping!
Some tools, guides and tips to enhance the map making skills and process.
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14. Level Forge Editor
A new lightweight browser tool for prototyping levels that also export for many industry standard engines.
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13. KishĹŤtenketsu Deep Dive!
A post explaining the process of using KishĹŤtenketsu in games, with 4 GIF examples featuring its use in Mega Man.
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12. GETTING STARTED!
This week I shared run throught how to get starting in Level or to keep developing your skills as a Game or Level Designer.
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11. Thinking Spaces with Design!
In this post, I share a selection of techniques, processes, and design philosophies that have shaped my approach to Level Design.
Each topic is briefly explained, along with a resource link for those who want to dive deeper into each one.
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10. Level Designing your Portfolio!
This post is all about portfolios but with a twist!
I break down how you can apply Level Design principles to make your portfolio clearer, more engaging, and structured like a great level.
I break down how you can apply Level Design principles to make your portfolio clearer, more engaging, and structured like a great level.
These are simple yet powerful tips I’ve gathered from conversations with senior designers and recruiters, plus a few handy links at the end for a deeper dive into the topic!
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9. Level Designer's Pocket Books!
In this post, I share some of my favorite Game, Level, and Design books that have shaped not just how I think about games and levels, but also creativity, problem-solving, and the design process itself.
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8. Level Editors to Try Out!
One of my favorite ways to practice is learning a new Level Editor and adapting to its unique mechanics and workflow.
I truly believe Level Editors are one of the best ways to start designing levels while having fun. So in this post, I highlight some must-try editors that every Level Designer should experiment with!
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7. No more Blank Page Paralysis...Â
Pre-production is here!
Pre-production is here!
One of the most overlooked aspects of level design,
and one of the hardest to find clear resources on.
and one of the hardest to find clear resources on.
In this post, I share some of the methods I use and encourage everyone to experiment and refine their own process to find what works best for them.
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6. Must-Know Unreal Tutorials!
A collection of useful tutorials for level designers.
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 5. Simple Triggers in Unreal!
Another 5 mintue video, this time feature a simple trigger mechanic for blockouts.
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4. Pre-Production Tools
This week I showcase some of my pre-production tools from gather and organizing references, to documentation and Mapping.
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3. Talks and Documentaries
In this post I gathered some of my favorite GDC Talks and NoClip documentaries talking about level design, why those are important and briefly talk about each one.
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2. From nothing to Blockout in Unreal!
This post and video highlight how easy it is to set up Unreal Engine 5 and start blocking out levels.
I walk through the process of installing a template, opening Unreal, and creating simple Blockout tools to quickly start designing levels.
The goal is to show just how fast and intuitive it can be to go from a blank project to a blockout.
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1. Playlist Recommendations!
A short list of YouTube channel playlists on level designÂ
that I really like and reccomend to anyone.
that I really like and reccomend to anyone.
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0. Looking for Level Design Resources?
The humble beginnings of Level Design Resources;
a brief post about the Level Design Compendium Trello.
a brief post about the Level Design Compendium Trello.
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Winners don't Gatekeep