DRAKE KAZMIERCZAK

Game Designer
Tacoma, WA (Willing to Relocate)
LINKEDIN - ARTSTATION

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

I am a game designer focused on building immersive, readable, and player-driven interactive experiences. My design philosophy centers around creating gameplay systems that feel intuitive, responsive, and emotionally engaging while maintaining strong mechanical clarity for players.

My career began in 3D art and interactive visualization, which gave me a strong technical and artistic foundation in real-time development. Over time, my focus naturally shifted toward gameplay design, where I discovered a passion for shaping player experiences, building gameplay mechanics, and designing systems that support long-term engagement and accessibility.

I have worked on multiplayer horror games, VR sandbox simulations, and educational mobile applications, contributing to projects ranging from original IP to licensed entertainment franchises. My experience spans prototyping, gameplay iteration, level design, UI interaction design, character ability design, and live service updates.

I thrive in collaborative development environments where ideas are rapidly prototyped, refined through player feedback, and improved through cross-discipline teamwork.

CORE SKILLS

  • Debugging & Gameplay Analysis

  • Multiplayer Design

  • 3D Modeling & Real-Time Assets

  • Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

  • Design Documentation & Production Pipelines

  • Game Mechanics & Systems Design

  • Level Design & Environmental Layout

  • UX/UI Design & User Experience

  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

  • Usability & Playtesting

SOFTWARE

  • Substance Suite

  • Unreal Game Engine

  • Perforce / Plastic SCM

  • Motion Builder

  • Unity Game Engine

  • Autodesk Maya

  • ZBrush

  • Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

OCTOBER GAMES LLC | February 2021 – December 2025

Game Designer / Project Manager / 3D Generalist

  • Contributed to multiplayer level design, objectives, and player navigation flow for Horror Legends and Puppet Master: The Game.

  • Implemented gameplay systems including weapon pickups, destructible environments, traversal mechanics, interactive gameplay objects, and level objectives.

  • Contributed to asymmetric character ability design, cooldown systems, perk progression, and multiplayer balance across multiple gameplay scenarios.

  • Developed gameplay mechanics for licensed film characters while maintaining brand authenticity and player readability.

  • Prototyped gameplay features in Unity and refined systems through structured playtesting and team feedback.

  • Implemented onboarding and UI messaging to support player guidance, clarity, and accessibility.

  • Maintained gameplay documentation and supported scalable multiplayer feature updates.

  • Worked across full development pipelines from prototyping through live updates, using version control to support collaborative gameplay iteration.

  • Participated in playtest sessions to improve pacing, clarity, and balance.

  • Designed gameplay interactions that prioritize player readability and natural interaction cues.

Shipped Titles:

  • Puppet Master: The Game — Steam, 2024 (Very Positive)

  • Horror Legends — Steam, 2021 (Very Positive)

FLOATING ORIGIN INTERACTIVE | May 2018 – February 2021

3D Content Designer

Supported open world level design for Balsa Model Flight Sim, a stylized VR simulation centered around model aircraft and RC vehicles.

  • Helped implement stylized avatars and action figure pilots supporting imaginative, toy-inspired play experiences.

  • Created gameplay objects and environment assets supporting navigation clarity and performance.

  • Collaborated with lead designer to iterate gameplay interactions through testing and refinement.

INFORELIANCE | July 2013 – September 2017

3D Generalist / Task Lead

  • Designed level layouts, hazards, and gameplay pickups for TBI Runner, a mobile endless runner training application.

  • Created gameplay pickups simulating traumatic brain injury symptoms to communicate educational concepts through player interaction.

  • Designed stylized environments and original animal mascot characters inspired by U.S. military branches to support an approachable and family-friendly tone.

  • Developed training environments using diegetic UI to communicate gameplay information through intuitive in-world interaction.

  • Collaborated with psychologists and subject matter experts to translate research into gameplay mechanics and player feedback systems.

  • Optimized gameplay readability, accessibility, and performance across mobile platforms.

INCONTEXT SOLUTIONS | August 2009 – September 2012

3D Artist

  • Created 3D assets and environments for retail visualization and interactive consumer experiences.

  • Collaborated with designers, developers, and clients to support usability and real-time performance goals.

  • Gained early experience working within production pipelines and iterative design workflows.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) – 3D Animation & Film
Columbia College Chicago

AWARDS

Key Contributor Award — Brian Doherty - InfoReliance - Oct 2015

Leonardo Award — John O' Shea, Lance Bendit. - InfoReliance — Feb 2015

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

  • Strong knowledge of game software technology and game art production

  • Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and shifting priorities

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

  • Highly organized, self-motivated, and accountable

  • Passionate lifelong gamer with hands-on design and production experience