Besides personal studies in design,
I also finished the CGMA Level Design Course.
A 10-week program blocking levels with Maya and Unity.
You can find more of my work on Artstation.
Beat Structure
Creating proper build up and release
- Introduction
- First enemy
- Traversal
- Stealth Encounter
- Exploration
- Surprise Set Piece
- Bigger Encounter
- Traversal to Treasure
Final Assignment
Culmination of several learnings
- inspired by Uncharted's tropes of forgotten civilizations and treasure hunts
- done in Unity and Maya
- focus on combining traversal and combat with proper pacing with a distinct highlight
Affordances
Highlighting mechanics for climbing and hook jumps by color coding and establishing shapes
Shape Language
Distinct usage of shapes for level-flow, composition, emotive design, and the character metrics
Encounter Design
Introduction to first enemy, stealth approach to second group, and surprise attack after set piece
Learnings
By using different elements to create interesting encounters
- improving cover to cover flow
- clear visual language and metrics
- enemy behaviour and navigation (pre- and in-combat)
- setting up player and enemy fronts
- establishing and breaking sight lines
- working with prospect and refuge spaces
Encounter Design Assignment
Exploring different combat setups
- 1 week to create 3 distinct encounters
- focus on basic enemy scripting, enemy composition and combat flow
- applying learnings from previous blockout assignments
Basement Level
narrow interior combat with several different height levels,
multiple routes to flank and retreat
Infiltration Level
linear combat area with a mix of interior and exterior spaces,
small exploration pockets
Campside Level
open exterior combat with circular flow and higher vantage point for initial planning phase
ABOUT
My name is Justin Zwack and this is my portfolio.
I'm a Lead Level Designer with more than 9 years of experience currently working at KING Art Games in Bremen, Germany.
© 2026 Justin Zwack All Rights Reserved