Q: Tell us a bit about you — where do you work and what do you do?
I currently work at Disney as a Lead UI/UX Designer. My current role is really about doing a lot of different things, including wireframes / designing flows, implementing assets, setting up layouts in the engine, and helping out with some art assets when needed.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your personal journey into games. Why did you want to get into the industry?
I have been gaming since I was little. I remember playing DOS games very early on, then started to explore more games as I was getting older. Some games I remember playing were GTA: Vice City, Mount & Blade, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Zoo Tycoon, Age of Empires and many more. Originally, I wanted to be a children’s book illustrator as I was always interested in drawing and making art. During my final university year, I was doing a bunch of internships in graphic design, fashion and games. The internship at the game studio was an amazing experience, and it made me start doing research to find a way to get into the industry. I managed to get a QA job, and a year after, I got into UX Design.
Q: What do you love about working in games and what inspires you?
I love the creativity and passion around making games. Being able to work with like-minded people to create fun experiences for people is a very unique opportunity. When it comes to my job, being able to combine problem-solving and games is very rewarding. Every day has its own challenge to solve in the best way. You work in a team that wants the same thing: to make an awesome product.
I also love playing all kinds of games in my free time, so that’s a massive inspiration for me, especially indie games. There are more and more super talented people making amazing games, and that keeps pushing me to keep learning and growing as a person; not just at work, but also outside.
Q: Do you have a piece of work you’re most proud of in your career and if so, what is it?
I have worked on some great projects during my career so far, but I have to pick Diablo IV as my proudest achievement. I got promoted to a lead not long before we had to ship, so there was a lot of pressure to hit player expectations. It was an honour to be able to help make such a great game, but the most rewarding part was watching the players’ reaction. Diablo IV was one of the most challenging games I have worked on UX system wise; it’s a deep game with a lot of complex systems, so it’s even more rewarding to make such a complex game accessible for our players. I could not have done it without such an amazing and supportive team!
Q: What’s one piece of advice you wish someone had given you early in your career?
When you are younger, you have more time and fewer responsibilities, so I wish I could have used that time to pick up new skills and learn more outside of work. Not just UX but other skills as well that can help me do my job more efficiently.
I have been putting more effort into teaching myself different skills and learning from others, but I feel I could have done more when I was younger. That said, there is a lot more information and resources available than ever before, which makes learning easier.
Q: What inspired you to join Vessel Forge as a mentor and why?
I have always liked being a lead and mentoring my team, but I never really thought about becoming a mentor. When I came across Vessel Forge, it was pretty clear that each mentor takes teaching extremely seriously. Each individual has a really strong professional background and a ton of knowledge to share, so I was really lucky to be asked to join the team.
I think Vessel Forge is unique compared to other companies out there, as mentors have quality time with their mentees, rather than using a generic curriculum. Being able to adjust to each mentee is amazing, and it allows both the mentor and mentee to learn a lot. I am really excited to start my journey with the company and to also continue growing both as an individual and a designer.
Q: What mentorship program are you leading for Vessel Forge?
My mentorship is focusing on gameplay UX/UI. It’s really about problem-solving whilst putting the user first. There will be some overlap with game design as it’s an important part of creating the player journey.
No mentorships are the same, as it adjusts to the mentees’ needs and areas of growth. If you are brand new to UX but passionate about gaming, we would cover fundamentals first, and multiple areas around creating wireframes and UX flows. As well as how to interact with disciplines and the best way to provide designs whilst also getting across the main message.
For those who are familiar with UX but might not have portfolio pieces or are unsure how to step further, we would likely focus on tasks and problem-solving. The quickest way to learn is to design screens and then use the lesson to go over it, talk about the strong parts, areas to improve and why. The goal is to implement a different way of thinking when designing a screen.
Q: Who are the ideal candidates for this mentorship and how can they sign up?
I would recommend this mentorship to anyone who is interested in game UX, just starting out or for those who want to polish up their UX skills and build a portfolio.
To sign up, check out the Gameplay UX/UI mentorship page and make sure it’s the right fit for you and for what you are looking to get out of it. If you feel it’s for you, you can just apply on the Vessel Forge website. Spots tend to be limited, but if your application gets approved, we will reach out and find a time that works best for everyone.
If you’re interested in signing up for the UI/UX Design for Games Mentorship, you can submit your application here. Spots are limited, but if your application is approved, we’ll reach out to you with a code to purchase your program and officially begin your mentorship journey.
Thank you for reading! You can view Dorottya’s Metorship below:
