The Cinematic Design Lead plays a pivotal role in shaping the visual storytelling and immersive experiences of our games here at Crystal Dynamics. Positioned within the Story Pillar, this leadership position works closely with the other Design Leads and teams, infusing content with captivating presentation elements that narrate and enhance gameplay. Your expertise will direct the creative vision for reveals, character conversations, tutorial experiences, and first use moments, ensuring a seamless blend of narrative and gameplay.
As a Cinematic Design Lead, you will:
- Partner with narrative and design leads to weave presentation elements seamlessly into the game, while adhering to the cinematic tone and style set forth by the Cinematic Director.
- Lead the strategic planning and execution of presentation for significant game moments.
- Oversee and drive the work of the presentation team, inspiring creativity, innovation, and excellence in every aspect of their work.
- Manage cross-disciplinary collaboration to ensure presentation objectives align with overall game design and storytelling goals.
- Evaluate and refine presentation techniques, adapting based on feedback and evolving project needs.
- Champion the integration of advanced technologies and methodologies to enhance presentation quality and impact.
To be considered for this role, we require the following:
- Experience as a Senior, Lead, or Principal Designer (or equivalent), overseeing experience/presentation or similar design functions for highly rated next-gen games.
- Leadership experience, overseeing multi-disciplinary teams within AAA game development.
- A comprehensive understanding of narrative design, player psychology, cinematic storytelling, and cinematic language, including directing character conversations and utilizing animation and camera libraries for narrative depth.
- Strong project management skills, with a history of delivering complex projects on time and within budget.
- Proficiency in advanced game development software and tools.
- Extensive understanding of end-to-end game development processes.
- Demonstrated capacity for fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Preference will be given to candidates who have:
- Portfolio that showcases the ability to drive innovative design and vision execution.
- Experience creating systems for AAA Action-Adventure games for PC/Console.
- Advanced proficiency with Unreal Engine.
- Experience with Sequencer.
It'll be a bonus if you also have:
- Shipped multiple AAA titles.