I build game worlds where story becomes space
Level Artist · Narrative Designer · Worldbuilder
I am a Game Design student at HSE University with a focus on level art and narrative design.
I enjoy working at the point where visual environment, gameplay and story meet. My experience includes creating level blockouts and environments, developing narrative documentation and game mechanics, working with Blueprints, animation and sound.I am interested in game projects that combine strong visual design with meaningful player experience.Based in Moscow, Russia
Open to new projects and professional opportunities
A game world can look impressive and still feel empty?
LOOKS GOOD
Beautiful assets don’t necessarily create meaning.TELLS NOTHING
Players can walk through a location without understanding its story.DOESN’T SUPPORT GAMEPLAY
The environment exists separately from narrative and player experience.
I use narrative design and level art together to create environments that communicate through architecture, objects, atmosphere, spatial composition and player interaction.
I usually start with the gameplay or narrative task and then translate it into space, interaction and visual details.
Task → Research → Blockout → Design → Implementation
For me, level art is not only about how a location looks.
It is also about navigation, composition, atmosphere and the information the player receives while exploring it.
My projects
Previous experience with non-profit and commercial projects
OTARA
3D Simulation Game
Role: Narrative Designer · Level Artist · Sound Designer · Technical Artist
OTARA is a 3D simulation game with narrative and atmospheric elements. I worked on the project across narrative, level art and technical tasks. I developed concept and reference boards, created level blockouts and worked on level art and level design. I also participated in the development of gameplay mechanics and prepared technical specifications.
In Unreal Engine 5, I worked with Blueprints and created technical animations. I also animated assets in Blender and worked with the basic sound design of the project.
From idea to levelReferences
I create concept and reference boards to establish the visual direction and define the key elements of the environment.Blockout
I build the basic structure of the level to test spatial organization, navigation and gameplay flow.Level Art
I develop the environment, combining visual composition with the gameplay and narrative requirements of the location.Implementation
I integrate the environment and gameplay elements in Unreal Engine 5, working with Blueprints and technical animation.
MALACHITE CARD
3D Card Game
Role: Level Artist · Programmer · Narrative Designer
Malachite Maps is a 3D card game combining game mechanics, narrative and an interactive environment. I worked on the project as a level artist, programmer and narrative designer.
My work included developing the game environment, working on narrative elements and implementing gameplay features. I also participated in programming and game documentation, connecting the visual and narrative parts of the project with its gameplay systems.
DIE! ANT WORLD 2025
Live-Action Role-Playing Game
Role: Screenwriter
Die! Ant World 2025 is a live-action role-playing project. I worked on the project as a screenwriter, focusing on the development of the scenario and interactive narrative.
My work included developing the story, structuring scenarios and creating situations and characters for an interactive format. The project gave me experience in writing narratives designed not only to be read, but also to be experienced and acted out by participants.
Tools
Game Development
Unreal Engine 5
3D & Visual
Blender · Figma · Miro · InDesign · Illustrator
Motion & Audio
After Effects · Ableton Live
Other
GitHub
Diversion
Google environments
What I bring to a team
I can work across different stages of game development, from early ideas and references to playable implementation.
I am comfortable working with large amounts of information, turning research into structured game documentation and collaborating with other disciplines.
I am especially interested in projects where level design, visual environment and narrative support each other.
Let’s work together
I am open to: Level Art, Narrative Design, Worldbuilding, Game Development Collaborations
Olesya Zhakovaol.zhakova@gmail.com
+7 967 904-00-17
Moscow, RussiaPortfolio
