Fern is a passionate Level Designer with a focus on narrative currently working at Maverick Games on a brand new narrative-led open-world driving game. 

Originally destined to go down the animation and VFX path, she has a Ba in Animation and VFX from Falmouth University and a MA in 3D Animation from Bournemouth University, where she honed her storytelling skills.

When the world was suddenly thrown into a lockdown thanks to COVID Fern re-discovered her childhood love of gaming. As such she returned to Falmouth University to complete a Masters in Game Design. There, Fern specialised in Writing and Level Design with a focus on narratively driven games and also carried out research into the use of Cognitive Mapping as a tool to guide players in a non-intrusive way.  A dedicated coffee drinker, with a love of immersive storytelling; when Fern is not creating levels, writing, or playing games she can be found exploring with her dog Millican.

PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS

CURRENT PROJECT

Maverick Games | Level Designer | Novemeber 2024 – Present
New unannounced AAA IP

This project is currently under NDA, I look forward to sharing more information in the future.

PREVIOUS PROJECTS

Ubisoft Leamington | Level Designer | April 2024 – October 2024

Previously | Junior Level Designer | October 2023 – March 2024
New unannounced AAA IP

This project is currently under NDA, I look forward to sharing more information in the future.

SPEAKING EVENTS

Animex 2024

  • Animex Pro Workshop
    Wayfinding 101: Cognitive Mapping as a Tool for Level Design
  • Animex Marketplace Seminars
    Women in Games Roundtable

A roundtable composed of Women in Games ambassadors, discussing their roles and journeys in the industry. How being a woman in the industry may have impacted their career and provide advice for aspiring graduates who are still unsure of their future path.

Interactive Futures 2024

  • How We Made It – Different Pathways into Games

Staffed the Ubisoft Leamington stand, chatting to the general public about working in the games industry, my role as a level designer and the different pathways you can take into games.

Animex Festival 2023

  • Finding the Plot: Level Design Techniques for Visually Communicating Narrative to Players

Story is a crucial part of many games, offering players the unique experience of being an active participant in the storytelling process. Level design is central to player experience and an integral way that games communicate with the player. It’s not just designing cool spaces for gameplay to take place in, but an important tool that can be used to tell stories, set the mood, and impact player emotions. This talk covered ways that level design can be used to not only physically reflect the narrative but communicate it directly to the player.