MAYAN PYRAMID
ROLE: LEVEL DESIGNER
STATUS: SPATIAL DESIGN STUDY
Mayan Pyramid is a level design study focused on large-scale environmental composition and player navigation within vertically layered exploration spaces. The project explored how spatial structure, elevation changes, and landmark visibility influence traversal decisions and environmental readability.
The level was designed to test player orientation and movement flow within a visually dense architectural setting.
DESIGN FOCUS
Key design priorities included:
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Exploring vertical traversal and elevation-based navigation.
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Structuring environmental landmarks to support spatial orientation.
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Testing scale perception within enclosed architectural spaces.
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Evaluating player movement flow through layered pathways.
RESPONSIBILITIES
My contributions included:
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Designed overall level layout and spatial traversal routes.
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Implemented blockmesh environment structure in Unreal Engine.
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Iterated on pathway clarity to support player navigation.
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Conducted playtesting to evaluate environmental readability.
LEVEL DESIGN APPROACH
The level was structured to encourage upward progression through a sequence of interconnected exploration spaces. Vertical layering and architectural framing were used to influence player direction while maintaining a sense of openness and discovery.
Environmental composition focused on guiding player movement through visual hierarchy rather than explicit instruction, allowing navigation to emerge from spatial understanding.
The visual direction and architectural scale of the level were partially inspired by stylized environment compositions seen in animated fantasy media, influencing the emphasis on verticality and monumental structure.
