Game Design Studies open new career paths for experienced professionals

This article is also available in Finnish: https://www.xamk.fi/game-design-opinnot-avaavat-uusia-urapolkuja-myos-kokeneille-osaajille/

The studies have met all the expectations I had for them and given me even a little more. They have also validated that I have done many things right during my career

A long career in the creative industries led to Game Design Studies

Samuli Lahtinen has played video games for most of his life. In addition to gaming, he has a long career in the creative industries, working as a graphic designer, illustrator and layout designer. Game development has interested him for years, and he has previously been involved in game projects as a hobby.

The idea of pursuing a degree emerged at a point in life when there was room for new opportunities. At the same time, news of the new Game Design programme came just the right moment.

-I don’t really see myself as changing careers, but rather moving into a new lane within the creative industries. When I heard about this programme, it felt natural to seize the opportunity, Lahtinen says.

Xamk was already familiar to him from previous studies, but the deciding factor was the programme itself:

-This programme was exactly what I had been looking for. It was the main reason I decided to apply.

Online Studies make it possible to study alongside work

From Lahtinen’s perspective, one of the greatest strengths of the programme is online learning. For a student who is both an entrepreneur and active in working life, flexibility is practically essential.

-Online studying suits me perfectly. I can study at my own pace and combine my studies with work and the rest of my life. If the programme were entirely based on on-campus teaching, completing the degree would be considerably more difficult for me, he says.

The opportunity to study regardless of location also makes higher education more accessible to students who already have a career, run a business or have other commitments.

The impact can be seen concretely at an individual level: studying provides new expertise without requiring students to step away from working life for several years. At the same time, their skills develop and new career opportunities emerge.

Community creates support, networks and new opportunities

Although the programme is delivered online, a sense of community has been one of the most positive aspects of the study experience.

Group assignments, discussions on Discord and the continuous exchange of ideas with fellow students have created an active learning environment. Whenever help is needed, support is readily available for both technical questions and creative challenges.

We have a really good community. If someone runs out of ideas or encounters a problem, there is almost always someone ready to help. It makes studying much more enjoyable

The benefits of networking have already become apparent during the studies. Through games industry events, his studies and new contacts, Lahtinen also became involved in a games industry project in Espoo:

-Networks are forming all the time, really. I have already gained concrete opportunities that I might not have come across without these studies.

Studies change the way you see the Games Industry

Although the more in-depth Game Design study module is only just beginning, the studies have already influenced the way Lahtinen views games and the Games Industry:

-Games now look more like the result of work rather than some mysterious end product. When you become familiar with the processes and tools, you understand how many different professionals work behind them. It makes the industry even more interesting.

In the future, he dreams of working on large-scale game production. He is particularly interested in concept design:

-It would be great to one day help build a world or concept for a game series that players will still remember years later. That would be a real dream.

An open mind pays off

Lahtinen encourages people to apply for Game Design Studies even if they feel their background is not yet perfect:

-You don’t need to think that you should already know everything. That’s what school is for. It’s worth applying with an open mind. Your skills develop step by step during your studies.

According to him, the programme is particularly well suited to people who are interested in new opportunities and want to develop their expertise with an open mind.