30/10/2025
LinkedIn link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bea-g-659066149/
For this week’s guest lecture we had Bea, a Senior Game Designer at Kwalee, come in and talk about her career and advice. Bea spent seven years developing and publishing in the mobile games industry, where she now leads designs and manages graduate roles. Like the other guests we’ve had so far, she showed an honest insight into the realities of entering and growing within the games industry.
Bea’s journey was not straightforward. She became chronically ill and took a year out after completing her BA in Game Design and Art at the University of Southampton. During this time, she made her own game. After graduating, she freelanced in UI/UX design and took part in game jams and summer schools, which helped her gain more experience and build her portfolio.
She also spoke about her early career as a Junior Game Designer, where perseverance was key. After applying for many roles, she was eventually hired because she showed the ability to “find the fun first”. This phrase highlighted how creativity is often valued just as much as a technical skill.
As Bea progressed, her responsibilities expanded to include leading design projects, pitching new ideas and collaborating internationally across multiple teams. Her current senior role involves both creative and managerial work, from documentation and economy design to mentoring others. She empathised the importance of teamwork, explaining that 99% of the job is collaboration, and that understanding each step at university helped prepare her for professional environments.
Bea’s experiences made me reflect on my own approach to projects and teamwork. I realised that whilst I often focus on the creative side, I could improve by considering how organisation, documentation, and clear communication contribute to project’s success. Her insights into recruitment and the competitive nature of the industry highlighted the need to tailor portfolios and CVs for specific roles, using keywords and clear, professional presentation.
Bea also outlined the range of roles in the industry, and it came to my surprise that there were quite a few roles I didn’t know much about. It was great to learn about different roles in the industry, and how transferable and cross-over skills can open unexpected pathways. She encouraged us to remember that there’s no single way into the industry and that even non-game jobs can provide useful experience.
Finally, Bea gave valuable practical advice for job applications. One being create a clear snd focused portfolio and another to create tailored CV’s using relevant keywords and keeping it to 1-2 pages long maximum. Her honesty about both challenges and achievements made the lecture insightful and motivating. It reinforced that persistence, adaptability, and creativity are vital in building a successful career in games design.
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