Greetings, my name is Michiel De Paepe, a Belgian designer passionate about crafting memorable experiences in level and narrative design. I thrive on creativity and exploration, always committing fully to every project I partake in and being flexible when changes present themselves. Communication is key for my process as well as teamwork being important for me because you can't get a ship ashore alone. Beyond that, always interested in learning new tools and tackling new challenges as they come along.…

Michiel De Paepe

Greetings, my name is Michiel De Paepe, a Belgian designer passionate about crafting memorable experiences in level and narrative design. I thrive on creativity and exploration, always committing fully to every project I partake in and being flexible when changes present themselves. Communication is key for my process as well as teamwork being important for me because you can't get a ship ashore alone. Beyond that, always interested in learning new tools and tackling new challenges as they come along.…

Available to hire

Greetings, my name is Michiel De Paepe, a Belgian designer passionate about crafting memorable experiences in level and narrative design. I thrive on creativity and exploration, always committing fully to every project I partake in and being flexible when changes present themselves. Communication is key for my process as well as teamwork being important for me because you can’t get a ship ashore alone. Beyond that, always interested in learning new tools and tackling new challenges as they come along.

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Skills

Experience Level

Game Design
Expert
Unity
Expert
Pitch Writing
Expert
Adobe Photoshop
Expert
Unity 3D
Expert
UI
Expert
Microsoft Word
Intermediate
Prototype
Intermediate
C#
Intermediate
Unreal Engine 4
Intermediate
3D Model
Intermediate
Autodesk Maya
Intermediate
Blender
Intermediate
Jira
Intermediate
Substance Painter
Beginner
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Language

English
Fluent
Dutch
Fluent
French
Beginner
German
Beginner

Work Experience

Game Designer at Rogueside
February 5, 2024 - April 13, 2025
Full-time game designer responsible for overall game design, level and puzzle design, production planning, narrative design, documentation and system design. Contributed to asset integration and technical setup; worked on 'Best Served Cold' (released May 2025). Involved in canceled Summer 2024 project with scope including level design, puzzle design, narrative design, and documentation. Also worked on several prototype projects.
Logistics Assistant at Ontex
July 26, 2021 - August 31, 2021
Vacation work handling truck loading/unloading, administrative duties, and warehouse management.
Seasonal Student at Bleckmann Fashion & Lifestyle Logistics
September 20, 2018 - September 12, 2019
Seasonal student responsibilities included stock placements, labeling stock, collecting orders, and truck loading/unloading.
Lecturer at Syntra West
December 1, 2025 - February 28, 2026
Teaching Game User Interface Design to students, creating documentation and assets as well as leading classes.
Intern Administrative Work at ICG Medical
April 1, 2019 - May 31, 2019
Administrative tasks and accountancy.
Level Designer at Geert Nellen
February 10, 2026 - Present
Working on prototype project, where I am working on game design, puzzles, automation systems and mapping out large open-world areas.

Education

Bachelor Independent Game Production at Digital Arts & Entertainment - Howest Kortrijk
September 21, 2020 - June 28, 2024
Cambridge Proficiency Exam at EF Campus, London
September 17, 2018 - May 24, 2019
Diploma in Accounting & IT at College O-L-V Ten Doorn, Eeklo
September 1, 2012 - June 29, 2018
Bachelor of Independent Game Production at Howest - Digital Arts and Entertainment
January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2024
Diploma in Accountancy & IT at College O-L-V Ten Doorn
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
Cambridge Proficiency Exam at Cambridge, London
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019

Qualifications

Certificate Level Design For Games at CG Master Academy
April 14, 2025 - July 4, 2025
Cambridge Proficiency Exam
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2019
Diploma in Accounting & IT
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
Game Level Design For Games Certificate
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
UX Design
January 1, 2025 - March 9, 2026

Industry Experience

Gaming, Software & Internet, Media & Entertainment, Education
    paper Best Served Cold

    In an alternate history Europe, “The Nightcap” is the last speakeasy in town, and you’re pouring the drinks… while your customers spill their secrets. Mix and serve cocktails with a twist, as you become a detective while trying to save your bar.

    Best Served Cold is a detective visual novel where you navigate five cases with 21 different characters and solve murder cases through your wits and alcohol.

    I was a game designer/ technical designer on this project of Rogueside, implenting many of the logic and chapters as well as looking into additional features and aiding with the overall production.
    My tasks included:

    • Implementing two chapters of the game in their entirety (setting up 20 characters, variables, staged events, calendars, tutorials, …) as well as doing additional scripting work for three others.
    • Implement features based on received scripts and descriptions.
    • UI/UX design and implementation.
    • Tutorial design and implementation.
    • Localization implementation and managing loc sheets.
    • Playtesting and feedback on other aspects of the pipeline; as well as implementation of feedback.
    • Importing and setting up assets / communication art team.
    • Communication tech team for new features as well as requesting scripts for them.

    Throughout this project, we utilized the Unity engine, as well as Arcweave to handle the branching narrative threads with Pixel Crusher’s Dialogue System for Unity as plug-in to make this system work. Besides that, Jira was used for the planning and SourceTree as the git-client.

    This project is available in English, Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese; and launched on PC, PS5, Xbox One and Switch.

    Steam Link: https://www.twine.net/signin