Game Designer (Gameplay)

About Us

The Donovan’s Venom is a 501c3 nonprofit organization focused on curating universal accessibility to fine arts and music education for all. We are passionately dedicated to ensuring that everyone, regardless of financial circumstances, has access to high-quality music education, performance opportunities, and fine art. We aim to inspire, empower, and uplift communities by fostering a love for music and the arts through our commitment to education, inclusivity, diversity, and social impact, which drives us to expand our reach continually and enrich the lives of those we serve.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Gameplay Designer to shape how players interact with and experience our game. This volunteer will research, conceptualize, test, and refine gameplay mechanics to ensure they are intuitive, engaging, and aligned with the project’s purpose. You’ll collaborate closely with designers, developers, artists, writers, and subject-matter experts in a creative, supportive environment.

Key Responsibilities

• • Research gameplay standards, best practices, and player expectations to inform gameplay feature development.
  • Conceptualize and design gameplay mechanics grounded in player psychology, accessibility, and mission alignment.
  • Define the intended feel, behavior, pacing, and overall player experience for each gameplay element.
  • Create clear documentation outlining mechanics, controls, interactions, and player flows.
  • Playtest early and ongoing gameplay builds, providing detailed, actionable feedback.
  • Evaluate engagement, pacing, challenge, and overall “fun factor” to guide iteration and polish.
  • Collaborate with the broader team to ensure gameplay supports the project’s educational or social-impact goals.
  • Requires 15-20 hours/week

Qualifications

• • Passion for gameplay design and mission-driven or educational games.
  • Experience (professional or hobbyist) in designing or analyzing gameplay mechanics.
  • Strong understanding of player psychology, pacing, usability, and interaction design.
  • Ability to clearly communicate design concepts and feedback.
  • Comfortable working in a collaborative, remote, volunteer-driven environment.

What You’ll Gain

• • Hands-on experience designing core gameplay systems for a meaningful, purpose-driven game.
  • Opportunities to build your design portfolio with gameplay prototypes, documentation, and feature contributions.
  • Collaboration with a creative, interdisciplinary team of volunteers.
  • Growth in gameplay theory, user testing, iteration, and player experience design.
  • The chance to contribute to an impactful project that benefits players and communities.

Watch our video to learn more: The Donovans Piano Room