#25 - Alexander Brazie: “How To Get a Job In Gaming Playbook” - Building Portfolio, Nailing Interviews, Practical Tips & more

Today’s guest is Alexander Brazie, a veteran game designer with over 20 years of experience and co-founder of Game Design Skills.

Alexander has worked on some of the biggest titles in gaming, including World of Warcraft at Blizzard, League of Legends at Riot, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps at Moon Studios. With a track record of building and mentoring design teams, he’s helped ship over 32 projects and is passionate about teaching the craft of game design to the next generation.

In this episode, he breaks down how to land your first game design job, what recruiters look for in portfolios, and the mistakes new designers should avoid. Alexander also explains how reverse engineering games can sharpen your design skills and why a strong portfolio matters more than a degree.

If you're an aspiring game designer, a student, or someone looking to transition into the industry, this podcast is for you!

Connect with Alexander:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-brazie/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xelnath/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/xelnath?mx=2

Connect with Harry:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/
Youtube: ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:37 Alexander’s Journey Into Game Design
05:14 How to Land Your First Game Design Job
08:10 What Recruiters Look for in Game Designers
10:10 Mistakes New Designers Must Avoid
15:14 Useful Resources for Game Designers
16:37 Reverse Engineering Games to Learn Design
22:14 Common Mistakes In Game Design Interviews
32:25 How To Prepare For Design Tests And Interviews
41:12 Q&A: Action Game Design
43:41 Creating an Efficient Website Portfolio
44:33 Smarter Ways to Reapply After Rejection
46:49 Transferring Skills Into Game Design
47:13 Closing Thoughts and How to Connect