When we think about video games, we often picture stunning graphics, smooth mechanics, or immersive stories. However, there’s one aspect that often goes unnoticed but is crucial for everything to work together seamlessly: game design.
To better understand its importance, we spoke with Sergi Subirats, game designer and professor at DigiPen Europe-Bilbao, who explained what a game designer actually does, how a playable experience is built, and what skills are key to standing out in the industry.
About Sergi Subirats
Sergi Subirats holds a BS in Computer Engineering from the University Pompeu Fabra, with a focus on information technologies and human-computer interaction. His research on chess training and dyslexia was published at W4A 2016 and ASSETS 2017. He has worked as a game designer for Ubisoft and Bohemia Interactive and teaches at DigiPen. A certified Scrum Master, he combines his professional and teaching roles. Passionate about games since childhood, Subirats aims to foster critical thinking and empower students with humility and confidence.
More Than Programming and Art: What Is Game Design?
Video games are often associated solely with programming or art, but design is the soul of the game — the element that shapes the player’s experience. According to Subirats, game design is the process of bringing together elements like mechanics, narrative, level structure, and interface to create a cohesive experience.
When a game lacks good design, it shows. It might be visually stunning or technically solid, but if the design isn’t well thought out, the player feels it’s empty. Good design is what keeps the player hooked, offering an engaging cognitive challenge and structuring the experience so it’s enjoyable.”
In other words, a game designer isn’t just someone who comes up with ideas, but someone who organizes the game in a way that makes it enjoyable, understandable, and compelling for the player to keep playing.
How Does Game Design Begin?
The first step is defining the gameplay loop —that is, the core cycle of actions the player will repeat throughout the game.
The gameplay loop is the first thing you need to define. What will the player be doing repeatedly? How will it feel to do it? From there, smaller mechanics are built around it to structure the game’s design.”
Defining a gameplay loop can look like this. 
Defining a gameplay loop can look like this. 
Defining a gameplay loop can look like this.
This process requires references—not to copy, but to draw inspiration and analyze what elements have worked well in other games. A designer must think critically and analytically, exploring innovative mechanics and adapting them to their own project. This ability to observe and adapt is what sets a skilled game designer apart. It’s not just about coming up with ideas, but about understanding how to translate them into gameplay experiences that truly work.
Portal and Quantum Conundrum—two games that share similar mechanics, yet differ in execution and gameplay experience, each offering a unique approach in terms of design and playability. 
Portal and Quantum Conundrum—two games that share similar mechanics, yet differ in execution and gameplay experience, each offering a unique approach in terms of design and playability.
Technology and the Evolution of Game Design
Game design is a constantly evolving field. Tools like Unity and Unreal Engine have revolutionized how games are created, and the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning is taking that transformation even further.
AI is an incredibly useful tool for designers, but it will never replace human creativity and decision-making. The key lies in how we use it to our advantage.”
Sergi emphasizes that while AI can automate certain technical aspects of development, game design still relies heavily on human empathy and interpretation. A designer doesn’t just define mechanics and game structures—they understand how players experience and interact with those systems.
There are different profiles depending on each professional’s focus. Some designers have a more technical and logical profile, while others are more oriented toward narrative and the conceptual side of the game.
It’s important to note that each company may use different titles for these roles, and there is no universal standard. The most common profiles are typically referred to as:
- Game Designer (general)
- Systems Designer
- Meta Game Designer
- Economy Designer
- Narrative Designer
- Level Designer
In some cases, the term “scripters” is also used when the designer is expected to have technical knowledge and even implement small functionalities within the game.
Not all designers need advanced technical skills, but it’s definitely an advantage. Understanding how tools and programming languages work makes communication and game development much smoother.”
This is because a game designer doesn’t just come up with ideas — they collaborate with multiple departments (art, programming, audio, production) to ensure every element works cohesively within the gameplay experience. Being able to “speak the language” of programmers and/or artists makes the process more efficient and helps ensure that design ideas are implemented accurately.
How to Prepare for a Career in Game Design
For those looking to pursue a career in game design, Subirats highlights some key aspects:
- Empathy: A designer must understand both their team and the players. “Programmers want the game to be technically flawless, artists want it to be visually stunning… The designer must find the balance between both sides to create a complete experience.”
- Knowledge in psychology and culture In relation to empathy with the player, a good designer doesn’t just understand mechanics—they understand how the human brain works and how cultural trends influence the way we play. “You have to put yourself in the player’s shoes and think about how they will experience the game.”
- Analyzing games: When you play for fun, you focus on enjoying the experience. But when you play to analyze, in 20 minutes you can understand how a game is built. If you try many games with this mindset, you’ll expand your toolbox and create more interesting games. His final recommendation for aspiring designers: “Play many different games—not just play one game a lot.”
- Understanding different platforms: The way a game is experienced on a small screen or mobile device is very different from how it’s played on a PC or in a VR environment. Each platform has its own needs and standards based on how gameplay is delivered. Understanding this and knowing how to adapt a game to each platform is essential for any designer.
To continue learning outside the classroom, Subirats recommends two essential readings for anyone serious about design:
- Reverse Design: Super Mario World by Patrick Holleman
“It’s my favorite. It analyzes the game structure with surgical precision and helps you understand how design decisions affect gameplay. We even have it in the DigiPen library!” - The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman
“While it’s not specifically about video games, it teaches you how to think about usability and human behavior—skills that are at the core of good game design.”
Design is the essence that holds a video game together. Without good design, a game can be visually stunning or technically flawless, but it will feel empty and lack impact. As Sergi Subirats explained, a game designer is the one who builds the player’s experience—defining how they play, how they feel, and what challenges they face.
Interested in becoming a Game Designer? If you dream of designing video games, DigiPen Europe-Bilbao might be the place for you. Our Real-Time Interactive Simulation (RTIS) and our Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art and Animation (BFA) provide a strong technical foundation, which can be complemented with design skills and knowledge gained through specific classes and team projects.