Introduce yourself: What do you do at Gameforge and how long have you been part of the Art & Graphics team?

I’m Anna and I’ve been here for two years. I was in Korea as an exchange student and applied for a position, and was first in a Skype interview with the Art Director and Head of Art. They employed me as an intern and I returned from Korea straight to Gameforge. It went so well that I was then taken on as a working student and finally was fully employed.

Describe your typical working day.

Firstly we have a stand-up meeting, where we explain what we are currently working on. After we get to work on our projects and then go eat together at lunch. After work finishes, we sometimes also go out together for food or drinks.

What are your three most common tasks at work?

The range of work we do varies greatly. We are all all-rounders: we work on everything from digital media like banners, websites or animations round to printed things for Gamescom that we then use for the stand’s walls. The best thing is that we have an expert for every discipline in the team. For example, if I get stuck on some animations, then I have somebody I can go to for help.

What is the most enjoyable thing about being a Graphic Designer?

Naturally the creative freedom, variety and also the challenges. In the two years that I have been here, there has always been new challenges to face. I had to make sure I was always one step ahead and really had the feeling that I was learning something new everyday. I never had the impression that I was standing still. It is important as an artist to always keep learning new things, because there are always new tools and design trends arriving and you need to be up-to-date at all times.

What makes you and your position indispensable for Gameforge?

We have an expert for all positions within the company. My specialties lie in print media and vector graphics, as I have a print agency background and it used to be my part of my daily workload. Not only can I work well in Photoshop, but I also am comfortable with InDesign and Illustrator. I also like to illustrate, as I draw comics in my free time. This means I can help out with icons or overpaintings. I also love working on layouts and logo designs.

What made you decide to become a Graphic designer?

Because I am good at it (laughs). I was always very creative, I drew a lot and have always worked on creative hobby projects. The only thing I was missing was some self-confidence. But fortunately other people helped push me in the right direction.

Which three words describe the collaboration in your team?

Relaxed mood, engagement and passion for the job.

What qualities does an applicant need to have to be successful in your department, both in terms of the job and in terms of the team?

Professional skills are naturally important. You have to master your tools and have an eye for design, something which does need some training at first – not everyone who can use Photoshop is able to also design. Moreover, the ability to work in a team and to communicate are very important, as you have to share and exchange ideas. You can’t just hide behind your computer and you need to be able to take criticism. A bonus point is having a passion for computer games. The more you know the industry, the more fun you can have whilst you work and the more fun you have working with your colleagues.

In your opinion, what makes Gameforge special as an employer?

Definitely the people here at Gameforge. There’s always a good atmosphere. They pay close attention to the welfare of employees, moreso than in other companies that I have worked for previously.

What do you wish for Gameforge’s future?

Success.

What games are you interested in most?

Action games, RPGs, adventures, visual novels and plenty others. MMOs are the games I tend to play the most since I arrived here, as it helps me in my job to know my way around MMOs. I like to play across platforms, so on PC as well as on console. I find current trends like PUBG quite interesting too, so I tend to play it to understand the hype.

What is your favourite Gameforge game and why?

SoulWorker, because I am a total anime fan, or more specifically, I’m an Otaku. I enjoy a lot of stuff within this genre, which can also be seen on my desk – there’s anime and manga figurines all over the place! I also really like the character design in SoulWorker and I immediately fell in love with the characters. On top of all this, it is a fast-paced action game, which is exactly what I like.

And now for an inside story. What is your personal highlight at Gameforge?

Every day is a highlight. I look forward to coming to work every day. I have received so much positive feedback here, that I have been able to really develop, both in terms of my professional skills and personally. I have gotten a lot more self-confident and I feel valued by the people I work with.

Why do you like working in Karlsruhe and what’s your favourite location here?

The good thing about Karlsruhe is that it is a student town – there’s plenty to do here in your free time, with things like 8bit parties. There’s also a Cat Café, which not every town has. The cats are very trusting. I have already reserved my seat for the Cats-Light Dinner.

What are you interested in outside of work?

I draw comics, play computer games, read a lot and do sport (jogging, fitness and Taekwondo).

What do you still want to achieve in life?

I want to travel more: to Japan again, to Korea and to America. On the career side of things, I dream of one day becoming an Art Director in the distant future. But I still have to gain a lot of experience before that.

Imagine Gameforge were a party. What would your responsibilities be before, during and/or after the party?

Our department would probably mix up some of the coolest and most creative cocktails.

On a scale of 1 to 10 – how crazy are you?

At least an eight. I am really active in the manga and anime scene, seek out the seasons of current animes in bulk and I head to manga conventions every year to sell my art at an artist stand. I am living out my hobbies and in doing so, my dream.