16/10/2025
Jamie Blacknell – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-blacknell-545625175
Our first guest speaker was Jamie Blacknell, a developer who specialises in Unity. Jamie began by outlining the topics he would cover: his professional journey, roles within the industry, communication and collaboration, portfolio development and the importance of soft skills.
Jamie is a Games Design graduate from 2020, who entered the industry two years later, joining Pavia.io. Over the past five years, he has progressed from a junior generalist to a mid-level developer at Play360.ai, where he now contributes to leading aspects of project development.
Jamie reflected on how the university prepared him for industry practice, explaining that working both independently and collaboratively during his degree helped him develop initiative, research skills, playtesting, prototyping and presentation abilities. He emphasised how the university encourages you to be proactive while making full use of available tools and resources. According to Jamie, these experiences also strengthened his communication skills, an essential quality that he said can make graduates more employable.
As Jamie became more specialised in his role, he gained a deeper technical understanding but also faced new communication challenges. This transition led to one of his central themes of talk, effective communication. He discussed how communication styles adapt depending on the intended audience to which you are speaking to as a conversation with a team lead would differ from a conversation with another discipline or management. He mentioned how his university experience allowed him early on to take part in cross disciplinary collaboration, which helped him learn how to tailor his communication appropriately to each situation.
Jamie also offered valuable portfolio advice, mainly targeted towards developers and 3D artists, but also some general advice. He encouraged us to build a portfolio outside of the university to help demonstrate individuality and initiative, as well as maintain an online presence to showcase our own work. He further stressed the importance of networking, engaging with real people within the industry, being an active member within the community and speaking to seniors, which could lead to valuable opportunities and insights into the industry.
As he came to the end of his presentation, Jamie highlighted the significance of soft skills. He noted that, particularly for juniors, these skills can sometimes be more important than technical expertise. Attributes such as dedication, willingness to take risks, and strong communication are often recognised and valued by colleges and employers, supporting both personal and professional growth.
Reflecting on Jamie’s presentation has encouraged me to consider my own development. His insights have motivated me to use my final year to strengthen my soft skills, refine my portfolio and actively engage with the professional community around me. These steps will help guide me as I prepare to apply for a graduate scheme and embark on my own career journey within the games industry.
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Jamie’s portfolio
Jamie’s Portfolio
Jamie’s final year project – Portage
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Notes from Jamie’s Presentation
