Becoming a Lead Level Designer: Calixta Girard's inspiring journey

By Lili Trottier

2025-03-25

The level designer is an essential profession in the creation of a video game.

Their role? To imagine and build game levels, placing characters, obstacles, resources, and rewards to offer an immersive and engaging experience. Their goal is to design stimulating challenges and an immersive universe that keeps players engaged throughout the game.

Interested in this career? Get inspired by the journey of Calixta Girard, Lead Level Designer at Gameloft Montreal!

Please note that the interview was conducted in French. These responses have been translated to improve the accessibility of the content.

Q: What has been your educational and professional background?

''After completing my studies in accounting and management, I was surprised to discover that Montreal was a major hub for video game development. After extensive research into the various career options available, I decided to enroll in the level design training program offered by Campus ADN.

A year and a half later, I landed my first job in the industry as a game level designer at Ubisoft Montreal. I spent eleven years there, working on Watch Dogs 1 and 2, then on Assassin's Creed Origins and Valhalla.

Then, two years ago, I joined Gameloft Montreal as Lead Level Designer on Disney Dreamlight Valley, a life simulation and adventure game for PC/Console. The game is inspired by the worlds of Disney and Pixar, where I collaborate with the level design team to create quests, kingdoms, and expansions.''

Image credit: Artwork from Disney Dreamlight Valley – The Storybook Vale

Q: What are the main skills required to work as a Lead Level Designer?

To excel as a Lead Level Designer, you need to develop several essential skills. Calixta Girard shares five of them with us:

Knowing how to tell a story through spaces: “Designing good levels is not just about scenery: the Lead Level Designer guides players naturally and tells a story visually while exploiting the mechanics of the game.”
Have a sense of aesthetics and game feel: “A Lead Level Designer must know how to create environments that are beautiful, immersive, and capable of enhancing the player experience.”
Master level design tools: “Software such as Unreal Engine, Unity, or in-house editors are essential tools for the Lead Level Designer.” "
Know a little about coding and prototyping: “Know the basics of scripting languages (Blueprints, Lua, etc.) to quickly test game mechanics and interactions.”
Be a good leader: “Know how to motivate, guide, and communicate with your team to ensure that everyone is moving in the same direction.”

Q: How would you describe a typical day as Lead Level Designer?

"Part of my day is spent brainstorming with the creative director and my team about new content to add to the game, whether it's new quests featuring our characters or new Disney realms to explore. The other part of my day is spent testing the content designed by the level designers. I evaluate their work, give them feedback, and help them bring their ideas to life.

I also take the time to talk with my team to find out how they are feeling, identify any difficulties they may be having, and, if necessary, help them overcome those difficulties."

Q: In your opinion, what are the advantages and challenges of the job?

"The advantages of my job lie in being able to work in a field that I am passionate about, combining creativity and human interaction. I also have the opportunity to help others develop, whether as part of a team or through the gaming experiences we design.

However, this job also has its challenges. You have to be able to deal with technical difficulties without getting discouraged. In addition, collaborating with people from different fields with varying expertise and constraints, such as art, programming, game design, and audio, requires a great deal of adaptability and communication skills."

Q: What tools or software do you recommend mastering in order to excel in your profession?

"To train as a level designer, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the industry's leading game editors, such as Unreal Engine, Unity, and GameMaker.

All of these software programs are available for free and allow you to practice creating your own levels and scripting quests.

In my profession, it is also crucial to be able to communicate your intentions clearly. Mastery of PowerPoint or Photoshop is essential for creating precise diagrams and top views of levels."

Q: What advice would you give to students who dream of becoming a Lead Level Designer?

"It is essential to practice as much as possible using the free editors available.

Also, don't hesitate to have your creations tested by friends in order to gather their feedback and constantly improve your levels by iterating on them.

Playing games and analyzing them also helps you better understand level design mechanics, as does attending conferences by industry professionals, such as those at the GDC (Game Developers Conference).

Finally, being curious, observing what works in existing games, and always seeking to refine your approach are key to progressing and standing out in this profession."

Meet Calixta Girard

Calixta Girard is a lead level designer at Gameloft Montreal, with over 12 years of experience in the video game industry. After studying accounting and management, she discovered her passion for game design and enrolled in the game level design program at Campus ADN.

Her career began in 2012 at Ubisoft Montreal, where she contributed to iconic projects such as Watch Dogs 1 and 2 and Assassin's Creed Origins and Valhalla. In 2023, she joined Gameloft Montreal as lead level designer and is now working on the game Disney Dreamlight Valley.