We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Yuwei Lin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Yuwei below.

Hi Yuwei, thanks for joining us today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?

I completed my internship at Riot Games in the summer of 2022, and it was a challenging yet inspiring experience. As a young designer, I felt nervous and uncertain about the changes I was working on. Here are some questions and answers I learned that may help new game designers ease into a new environment:

Q: The real designers are talking and I don’t know how to join the conversation.

A: At the beginning of my internship, I found it not easy to jump into conversations as an introverted person. However, every team needs new perspectives and inputs (we value “clinex person” :D). I began by interrupting some jargon and understanding the design problem. I used virtual whiteboard tools like Miro to copy and paste relative games/elements that could guide new directions. Though I may not have verbally participated initially, the team knew I was digesting their conversations. And when they finished, I was prepared to present my ideas. Overall, designers are nice and love critical feedback, so prepare your ideas in your own way and be ready to share when ready.

Q: How can I contribute unique feedback without repeating what someone else has said?

To avoid repeating feedback, take time to prepare your thoughts and update them within a day of the discussion. During my internship, I learned from experienced designers by observing how they give feedback during playtests and surveys. I also organized team feedback and wrote summary reports to better understand the project. I ended up askeing more quantitative questions in surveys to provide a unique perspective and contributed valuable data that was not repetitive. Taking charge of a new role or task can showcase your individual contribution to the team.

Q: How do I ask for feedback from my mentor/manager?
A: Asking for feedback varies based on management style, but in my experience as both a team member and game director for my thesis project, I have found that seeking feedback is always helpful. Here are two steps that I found helpful:

First, conduct some research to see if there are similar functions in the game or ask related team members to redirect you to designers and engineers who can help. Asking the right person may save you more time.

Second, be clear about your question and be candid about your confusion or difficulties you’re facing. For example, “I feel like I am making minor changes that are difficult to test, how can I improve them?” At one point in my design, I focused too much on the numbers instead of the bigger picture, so I expressed my confusion to my mentor. She was really helpful and advised me to focus on the bigger picture, which helped me clarify my design questions.

Remember, you’re new to the team, and this is the best time to ask for feedback.

Yuwei, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hello, my name is Yuwei and I am a passionate game designer and artist. Currently, I am in my final year of the MFA program at USC and will be pursuing a career in game design after graduation. My interest in the game industry has been long-standing, as I have always found games to be an unparalleled medium for stimulating my thirst for knowledge.

My professional goals within the gaming industry encompass two aspects: promoting artistic games and game education. Given my background in the visual arts, I believe games can be an exceptional platform for artists to express their artistic and political views. During my time in the MFA program, I have utilized game engines to recreate my dreams and explore themes like the relationship between players and designers. and video game censorship. I believe that these deeply personal experiences can be enhanced through game interaction and can provide people with a unique and entertaining way to understand art.

Looking towards the future, my long-term goal is to become a game design instructor or educator. My experiences as a student at USC have shown me the transformative power of education in preparing individuals for the professional world. As a game design educator, I aspire to promote game design as a subject and provide more children with access to game design tools and ideas.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As a game designer, one of the most rewarding experiences I have had is seeing my finished game being played by others. It is a moment filled with nervousness, patience, and surprise, and it brings genuine joy to me. When players say things like “wow, this is interesting/pretty/amazing,” it feels like the game has been brought to life. It is a validation of my work and the team’s effort.

The connection between the player and designer is magical. The simple actions of pressing buttons and using a mouse can guide players through an immersive journey. I wish for all my audiences to have a great moment when they open my game, and experience the unique world that my team and I have created. This connection between player and designer is what makes game development so rewarding and special to me.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Designing a game takes time to receive feedback and undergo revisions, and effective communication is crucial throughout the process. Through my internship experiences, I learned firsthand about the differences between a designer’s perspective and that of the target audience. As a designer, I had a particular vision for the game and made changes that I believed would enhance its excitement. However, as I observed the game from an audience’s perspective after my internship, I saw that some players were upset and felt that the designers were ruining the game. It was heartbreaking to realize that my work had disappointed them, but it also highlighted how important it is to consider feedback from multiple perspectives.

Addressing player feedback requires designers to balance immediate reactions with the need to collect and analyze data in order to make informed decisions. I gained a greater appreciation for this balancing act when I saw how the team responded to a fatal bug in the game. They made initial fixes, but then took the time to gather more data before deciding which changes to implement. This process allowed them to make more thoughtful decisions that ultimately improved the game.

Based on my personal experiences, I want to emphasize that designers care deeply about their audience and strive to create products that meet their needs and desires. However, it’s also important to allow designers the time and space to gather data and make informed decisions. I would encourage audiences to try to view the product from multiple perspectives, and to be patient and understanding as the design process unfolds.

Overall, the creative journey can be challenging and complex, but by understanding the importance of feedback and communication, designers and players can work together to create products that are truly exceptional.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yuweilin.org/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuwei-lin-69450311a/