I think the most common question I get asked is what exactly is a Technical Experience Designer? When we say Experience we’re referring to UX or User Experience, so let’s break it down. 1/8

When we talk about experience design, the majority of the time we are talking about UI. Examples are things like the HUD, or the settings screen. However this discipline also extends beyond UI into things like user flows, first time boot ups, and such. 2/8
To make a UI in a game the following people typically are involved: Experience Designers, Technical Experience Designers, Programmers, and UI Artists. 3/8
An Experience Designer is likely the one you’re most familiar with. They create wireframes and design documentation for features. They also may work closely with groups like user experience research, data specialists, and various feature owners. 4/8
Okay but what exactly is a Technical Experience Designer then? Well they take those wireframes and design documentation and create it in game. They work with the Experience Designer and try to implement the most performant and best feeling version possible. 5/8
So then they’re programmers? Well sort of, they have a strong technical background but they don’t often work in C++. They either work in visual scripting languages like Unreals Blueprints or in a more traditional scripting language. 6/8
They do work closely with the programmers working on engine features they will need. As you may have also guessed they work closely with the UI Artists to implement their vision into the game. I like to think of them as a bridge between three very different disciplines. 7/8
Many Technical Experience Designers also are passionate about one of the other three disciplines they work with. This strengthens their skillset and helps them bridge the gaps between the disciplines. 8/8

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Ok, I’ve told this story a few times, but maybe never here. Here we go. 🧵👇


I was about 6. I was in the car with my mother. We were driving a few hours from home to go to Orlando. My parents were letting me audition for a tv show. It would end up being my first job. I was very excited. But, in the meantime we drove and listened to Rush’s show.

There was some sort of trivia question they posed to the audience. I don’t remember what the riddle was, but I remember I knew the answer right away. It was phrased in this way that was somehow just simpler to see from a kid’s perspective. The answer was CAROUSEL. I was elated.

My mother was THRILLED. She insisted that we call Into the show using her “for emergencies only” giant cell phone. It was this phone:


I called in. The phone rang for a while, but someone answered. It was an impatient-sounding dude. The screener. I said I had the trivia answer. He wasn’t charmed, I could hear him rolling his eyes. He asked me what it was. I told him. “Please hold.”

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