Aiwen (Emily) Zhang
Systems Designer
Experiences
​Gearbox Entertainment - Associate Systems Designer
June 2024 - Present
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Contributing to the development of Borderlands 4, a highly anticipated title with over 2 million wishlists on Steam.
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Collaborate daily with artists, programmers, and designers to build engaging gameplay systems using Blueprint scripting.
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Work closely with engineers to create and improve tools that support mission and level design pipelines.
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Design systems that enhance player experience and bring depth and interactivity to the open world.
​Tencent Games - Level Designer
June 2020 - July 2022
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Designed stealth- and combat-compatible levels for Assassin’s Creed Jade with an emphasis on fluid gameplay and historical immersion.
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Worked with the narrative, cinematics, and NPC teams to ensure levels supported story delivery and cinematic execution.
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Helped blend Classical Greek and Roman cultural elements with ancient Chinese history to innovate within the Assassin’s Creed IP.
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Created layouts that reflected authentic Chinese architecture and regional diversity while staying true to the franchise’s legacy.
Education
​SMU Guildhall, Master of Interactive Technology
August 2022 - May 2024
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Graduated with Specialization in Game Design
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Honors Student Nomination at a globally top-ranked game design graduate program
​University of Washington (Seattle), Bachelor of Arts
September 2016 - June 2020
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GPA 3.7 out of 4.0
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Graduated with a Major in Classics and a Minor in Informatics
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Dean’s List Honoree
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Leadership in Action Award Recipient (Phi Sigma Pi)