Question Regardig Level Design and Creativity

Greg DAlessandro

I want to become a level designer/artist and create maps and levels, as well as model and texture assets for environments. However, I'm not sure where to start, and I'm having trouble figuring out what to create. It's almost like having writers block and not knowing what to make or design.

How do you figure out what to make or work on? Or get better at generating ideas? Thank you.

unit187

Browse art galleries, like artstation.com, look what other people do, get inspired, create.

Greg DAlessandro

what would be the workflow for creating and practicing making levels/environments? Do you always start with sketches/concept art? Do you sometimes just go in and blockout geometry and come up with ideas as you go? I'm curious how other's go about it.

Fuiosg

Learn how to model, uv map, normal/texture map etc. Then inspiration will come naturally-- do you know how to do any of that?

Greg DAlessandro

Yes I do. I'm trying to figure out a process that I should use; If I should start with a level layout or make concepts first, blockout geometry next, and then create and design assets to replace the geometry.

Would you create models then figure out a level based off them, or would you make a level layout and then figure out models to place in it? I guess it can't hurt to try both.

Fuiosg

well level layout is completely dependent on the game, so personally I would just go with creating what interests you the most, whatever that may be, then let things project from there. If you're just concepting there's no need to lock yourself down into a workflow.