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I'm a designer who builds tabletop and hybrid games that blend strategic systems with accessible, engaging play. I focus on concept development, mechanic balancing, and professional-grade GDDs for publisher submission, turning creative themes into clear, fair, and replayable rule systems that resonate with players and partners alike. I created a full tabletop prototype pitched to Gamelyn Games and continue to contribute across design, narrative, and documentation roles. I'm currently Creative Director & Narrative Lead for CRI Smile Games (unannounced IP), where I lead a narrative puzzle-adventure prototype, develop core loop documentation and player-progression systems, and build GDD frameworks used by cross-discipline teams. I also serve as an Interactive Experience Designer for Strongmind and freelance writer for indie studios, shaping gameplay, pacing, and documentation.…I'm a designer who builds tabletop and hybrid games that blend strategic systems with accessible, engaging play. I focus on concept development, mechanic balancing, and professional-grade GDDs for publisher submission, turning creative themes into clear, fair, and replayable rule systems that resonate with players and partners alike. I created a full tabletop prototype pitched to Gamelyn Games and continue to contribute across design, narrative, and documentation roles. I'm currently Creative Director & Narrative Lead for CRI Smile Games (unannounced IP), where I lead a narrative puzzle-adventure prototype, develop core loop documentation and player-progression systems, and build GDD frameworks used by cross-discipline teams. I also serve as an Interactive Experience Designer for Strongmind and freelance writer for indie studios, shaping gameplay, pacing, and documentation.

Grant Holzhauer

Composer, Game Designer, Creative Director, +5

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I'm a designer who builds tabletop and hybrid games that blend strategic systems with accessible, engaging play. I focus on concept development, mechanic balancing, and professional-grade GDDs for publisher submission, turning creative themes into clear, fair, and replayable rule systems that resonate with players and partners alike. I created a full tabletop prototype pitched to Gamelyn Games and continue to contribute across design, narrative, and documentation roles. I'm currently Creative Director & Narrative Lead for CRI Smile Games (unannounced IP), where I lead a narrative puzzle-adventure prototype, develop core loop documentation and player-progression systems, and build GDD frameworks used by cross-discipline teams. I also serve as an Interactive Experience Designer for Strongmind and freelance writer for indie studios, shaping gameplay, pacing, and documentation.…I'm a designer who builds tabletop and hybrid games that blend strategic systems with accessible, engaging play. I focus on concept development, mechanic balancing, and professional-grade GDDs for publisher submission, turning creative themes into clear, fair, and replayable rule systems that resonate with players and partners alike. I created a full tabletop prototype pitched to Gamelyn Games and continue to contribute across design, narrative, and documentation roles. I'm currently Creative Director & Narrative Lead for CRI Smile Games (unannounced IP), where I lead a narrative puzzle-adventure prototype, develop core loop documentation and player-progression systems, and build GDD frameworks used by cross-discipline teams. I also serve as an Interactive Experience Designer for Strongmind and freelance writer for indie studios, shaping gameplay, pacing, and documentation.

Available to hire

I’m a designer who builds tabletop and hybrid games that blend strategic systems with accessible, engaging play. I focus on concept development, mechanic balancing, and professional-grade GDDs for publisher submission, turning creative themes into clear, fair, and replayable rule systems that resonate with players and partners alike. I created a full tabletop prototype pitched to Gamelyn Games and continue to contribute across design, narrative, and documentation roles.

I’m currently Creative Director & Narrative Lead for CRI Smile Games (unannounced IP), where I lead a narrative puzzle-adventure prototype, develop core loop documentation and player-progression systems, and build GDD frameworks used by cross-discipline teams. I also serve as an Interactive Experience Designer for Strongmind and freelance writer for indie studios, shaping gameplay, pacing, and documentation.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Work Experience

Media Composer (Contract)

July 1, 2020 - Present

Worked intimately with development teams to craft music to their specifications for various projects including feature films and video games. Created soundtracks and sound effects for multiple titles on platforms like Steam and Amazon Video, and released mixed-genre music albums and singles.

Creative Director / Co-Composer at CRI Smile Games

March 1, 2025 - Present

Crafted an original game concept and recruited a team; currently managing preproduction activities including music, production scheduling, task management through Trello, and documentation. Act as producer, removing roadblocks, ensuring communication, and inspiring the team.

Interactive Experience Designer at StrongMind

March 1, 2025 - September 4, 2025

Designed award-winning interactive games and experiences while serving as product owner and project manager using tools like Slack, Wrike, Jira, and Confluence. Led virtual and in-person meetings with cross-disciplinary teams across the U.S. and Philippines. Scoped, scheduled, planned sprints, managed resources, and delivered nearly 500 interactive products on time under minimal supervision. Took responsibility for pitching and demoing products to leadership weekly.

Game Designer at No More Robots & Other Contracts

September 1, 2016 - Present

Advocated for gameplay fun and player experience. Enhanced 3D level design and puzzles for Heist Simulator, implemented game logic in Unity, wrote dialog, and documented bugs. Designed and pitched a card game prototype with extensive player-content combinations to a board game publisher. Consulted with indie developers to solve gameplay problems, refine mechanics, create content, and write dialog.

Instructional Designer at StrongMind & University of Phoenix

December 1, 2018 - September 4, 2025

Transformed expert content into engaging, meaningful instructional design for various audiences. Worked as technical writer, project manager, and customer advocate leading teams involving leadership, stakeholders, content experts, editors, and media specialists from requests to final delivery.

Senior Editor at University of Phoenix & Apollo Group

December 1, 2015 - September 4, 2025

Set quality standards for curriculum content ensuring full execution of standards. Delivered critique and guidance with gentle encouragement, providing paths for improvement while maintaining writer autonomy. Later contracted independently as editor for other organizations.

Producer / Social Media Manager at Elephant Mouse / CodeQ

December 1, 2013 - September 4, 2025

Managed daily customer engagement to increase retention for games based on Paramount properties. Produced small teams of programmers and artists for multiple mobile apps, managed budgets, milestones, and coordinated standups.

Editor-in-Chief / Senior Editor / Games Journalist at Various Contracts

December 1, 2011 - September 4, 2025

Hired staff, managed payroll and content schedules, ran meetings, and ensured timely daily publication. Attended industry events, conducted interviews, developed content delivery systems, and wrote features and managed multiple publication sites.

Media Composer | Contracts

July 1, 2020 - Present

Collaborated closely with development teams to compose music tailored to game and film projects, including full-length feature films and multiple Steam games. Created sound effects for games and released original mixed genre music albums and singles across streaming platforms.

Creative Director / Co-Composer at Cri Smile Games

March 1, 2025 - Present

Conceived an original game idea and formed a team of six members for development. Led preproduction efforts, contributing broadly across roles with a focus on production including task and schedule management, communication, documentation, game design document oversight, early risk identification, and team inspiration.

Interactive Experience Designer at StrongMind

March 1, 2025 - September 4, 2025

Designed award-winning interactive games and managed a cross-discipline team of about 15 members distributed in the US and Philippines. Handled product ownership and project management duties involving scoping, scheduling, sprint planning, resource allocation, and timely delivery of nearly 500 customer interactives. Motivated teams to innovate and pushed creative boundaries, and handled executive-level product demos and pitches.

Game Designer | No More Robots & Other Contracts

September 1, 2016 - Present

Enhanced 3D level design and story elements for Heist Simulator, doubling or tripling level content through new puzzles and implementation of game logic in Unity. Designed, prototyped, and pitched a card game featuring over 750,000 ride combinations to a major board game publisher. Consulted with indie game developers, aiding gameplay problem-solving, content creation, puzzle design, dialog writing, playtesting, and game documentation.

Instructional Designer at StrongMind & University of Phoenix

December 1, 2018 - September 4, 2025

Translated subject matter expert content into engaging learning experiences. Combined technical writing, project management, and customer advocacy, leading small teams through process from request to final delivery to enhance clarity and presentation.

Senior Editor at University of Phoenix & Apollo Group

December 1, 2015 - September 4, 2025

Set quality standards for curriculum content ensuring high standards were met before publication. Delivered feedback constructively supporting writer development and maintained autonomy in corrections. Subsequently contracted independently as an editor for various organizations.

Producer / Social Media Manager at Elephant Mouse / CodeQ

December 1, 2013 - September 4, 2025

Managed social media strategies engaging customers daily, primarily to increase retention for games based on Paramount properties such as Star Trek Rivals and The Godfather Slots. Led small teams of programmers and artists on multiple mobile app projects, managing budgets, milestones, and team standups.

Editor-in-Chief / Senior Editor / Games Journalist | Contracts

December 1, 2011 - September 4, 2025

Oversaw gaming and technology websites' daily operations, including staff hiring, payroll management, content planning, meeting management, and ensured timely publication seven days a week. Attended industry events, conducted interviews, developed content delivery systems, and authored features for various gaming websites and iPad sites.

Creative Director & Narrative Lead at CRI Smile Games

March 1, 2025 - November 12, 2025

Lead designer for a narrative puzzle-adventure prototype; developed core loop documentation and player-progression systems. Built GDD frameworks and component lists used for multi-discipline collaboration. Balanced gameplay difficulty, pacing, and reward structures based on feedback.

Interactive Experience Designer at Strongmind

March 1, 2025 - March 1, 2025

Designed and documented 100+ interactive systems with clear player feedback loops. Applied tabletop-style progression logic to digital learning experiences for improved engagement.

Freelance Game & Media Writer at No More Robots, Indie Devs (Various Projects)

September 1, 2024 - September 1, 2024

Provided system design, documentation, and narrative feedback for indie games, including Heist Simulator (No More Robots). Assisted clients in building professional-grade design documentation and component specifications.