RANA JAHANI
Level Designer | Technical Game Designer
ABOUT ME
I'm a technical game and level designer with over 5 years of experience building games. I've created games that tell stories, build immersive worlds, and challenge players with puzzles to bring people together.
I’m passionate about creating meaningful player experiences that have impact on players beyond the gameworlds.
I earned my master's in Game Science and Design from Northeastern University, where I developed a strong foundation in game design and I learned to see games through the lens of player psychology and UX research.
To the right, I've been capturing players behavior during a playtest for my master's capstone project, VR Two-gether, a co-op game.
A screenshot of one of my levels created in UEFN
As a level designer, I specialize in crafting layouts and blockouts by applying core design principles, including flow, pacing, environmental storytelling, and encounter design. I bring design intentions to life by scripting gameplay mechanics and player interactions.
My technical expertise in both game development and worldbuilding enables me to see myself as a problem solver who bridges the gap between engineering and art, which helps me effectively communicate with multidisciplinary teams to translate design intentions.​
I have taught Game Design and Extended Reality (XR) course to help students learn how to create meaningful, engaging experiences that combine creativity, technology, and problem-solving.
Transferring my knowledge and experience to passionate students and mentoring them is a joyful and fulfilling experience for me as they learn how to apply design principles, create prototypes, and conduct playtesting to refine their projects.
A picture of my students experiencing VR games in class
Some of my favorite video games
I enjoy playing story-driven action-adventure, Metroidvania, RPG, puzzle, and stealth games. I’m inspired by titles that blend innovative mechanics with strong storytelling. On the left are some of my favorite games, each one has shaped my approach to design and continues to influence how I think about player experience and interaction.
Beyond design, I actively take part in the game dev community. I’ve volunteered at academia and industry events like IEEE Conference on Games and the Game Developers Conference (GDC), where I’ve connected with peers and helped create a supportive and collaborative environment.
Me and some of my fellow CA friends at GDC 2024
When I'm not immersed in the "magical world" of games, I love hiking in nature and capturing moments with my camera, which fuels my imagination. I also enjoy wandering around cities and find inspiration in daily life, architecture, and history. At home, I enjoy getting creative by baking cakes and desserts.
A screenshot of my photography page -
The architecture and urban life in The Netherlands
