Meet Olivia Yin | Game Designer & XR Developer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Olivia Yin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olivia, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
My journey into a creative career began in childhood, influenced by traveling with my architect parents. Experiencing a diverse range of architecture sparked my interest in spatial design, guiding me to study architecture. Concurrently, my passion for video games intertwined with my studies, captivating me with the endless possibilities of creating virtual spaces unrestricted by physical boundaries. This fascination steered my career toward game design, where virtual spaces are media to communicate with players through gameplay and story. Throughout my academic and professional journey, I‘ve been driven by the desire to tell compelling stories and evoke emotions through these virtual worlds, enhancing the immersive experience.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a game designer specializing in level design and world-building, working for a AAA video game. Transitioning from architecture to video game level design was a challenge that required me to learn an entirely new set of skills. With no prior experience in coding or game engines, I started my journey of self-education. For example, I had a 100-day learning with Unreal Engine, and I documented my progress daily on social media, which built me a solid technical foundation for my future projects.

During my graduate study at New York University, exploring extended reality (XR) opened my eyes to its potential for creating immersive experiences that break the conventional boundaries of the screen. I always ask myself what makes an experience more immersive, this led me to integrate sensory elements into my designs in XR experiences. I developed a scent-diffusing device shaped like a camera. In virtual reality (VR), when players “take a photo” of an object, the device releases a corresponding scent, enhancing the immersive experience by engaging the sense of smell. Building on the theme of transcending conventional gameplay, I conceived the “Spotlight” project, which uses a real-world flashlight to interact with the game environment. Players use the flashlight to reveal elements within dark spaces of the game, blending physical and virtual worlds seamlessly.

From my days as a curious student exploring the potential of new technologies, I’ve carried that into my professional career in the game industry. Now, I am continuously learning and refining my skills through hands-on experience with real-world projects. My journey has taught me the importance of not being afraid of embracing the unknown during the transition and using new technologies to tell stories better and to create deeply engaging, innovative experiences.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I will start our day with brunch at Urth Cafe, followed by a trip to Venice Beach to soak up some LA sunshine. We’ll also check out some stylized architecture, such as Frank Gehry’s Norton House. Then we’ll go from the beach to the LA downtown area, where there are many other architecture that I like and find very unique such as The Broad, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Bradbury Building, and we end our tour at the Grand Central Market with some great food. Can you smell the butter, fried eggs, and orange juice? We sit at the bar at Eggslut and enjoy our food together!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The game *Journey* by thatgamecompany and the experience *Tree VR* have been important in guiding my transition to game design and multisensory experiences. Both have uniquely blended aesthetics, interactive gameplay, and emotional storytelling, influencing my approach to creating immersive environments and narratives in game design.

I want to say thank you to my professors and mentors whose guidance and support have been instrumental in my growth as a designer. Their expertise and encouragement have not only shaped my design skills but also motivated me to explore new and challenging areas: Tracy, Winslow, Elie, and Akmyrat.

Most importantly, I want to give a huge shoutout to my parents. They backed me up when I shifted from what they knew well to the unfamiliar world of game design. Even though some parents might see video games as just addictive, my parents truly believe in my artistic and emotional expression in games. They’ve been my support through this journey.

Website: https://oliviayinjx.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviayinspace/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviajxyin/

Image Credits
NYU ITP Documentation Lab