Joelle Jahns
Level design · Player-centered spaces · Research-driven practice

Designing spaces
that make you feel.

I'm Joelle Jahns, a game designer specializing in level design, player navigation, environmental storytelling, and the emotional rhythm of interactive spaces.

Explore Projects ↗About Me
Grayscale portrait of Joelle Jahns
01 / About me

About Me

My name is Joelle Jahns, and I'm a game designer focused on creating engaging, player-centered experiences. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Game Design from Full Sail University in 2025, and I graduate with my Master's degree in November 2026. My work focuses on Level Design, UI Design, and Playtesting. I love finding new ways to make spaces feel memorable, easy to explore, and meaningful to players.

Learn More ↗
02 / Applied thesis portfolio

Thesis Projects

A selection of my level design projects from graduate school and my Capstone, showing how I plan, build, and shape environments for players.

Unfinished Unreal Engine 5 landscape blockmesh for a tutorial hub
PROJECT 01 · CAPSTONE · WORK IN PROGRESS

Tutorial HUB

A compact tutorial environment designed to encourage optional exploration while preserving a readable route toward the next objective.

RoleLevel Designer · Documentation & Landscape Blockmesh
ToolsUnreal Engine 5 · Google Drawings · Confluence
FocusLevel design document, route maps, wayfinding, terrain composition and environmental boundaries
ResearchInformation processing and game-task cognitive load (Sweller, 2023; Seyderhelm & Blackmore, 2023)
Media creditDesign and media: Joelle Jahns
Explore case study ↗
Moonlight Manor gameplay showing a rainy outdoor environment and manor grounds
PROJECT 02 · GRADUATE COURSEWORK

Moonlight Manor

Third-person paranormal puzzle adventure featuring an interconnected manor, exterior exploration, and atmospheric transitions.

RoleLevel Designer
ToolsUnreal Engine 5 · Google Drawings
FocusRoom flow, spatial organization, stairs, outdoor layouts, navigation and final polish
ResearchEnvironmental transitions and attention restoration (Liu et al., 2024; Pham & Sanocki, 2024)
Media creditMoonlight Manor Team · student project
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Volcanic Winter snowstorm environment blockout
PROJECT 03 · BIOME DESIGN COLLECTION · IN PROGRESS

Biome Level Design Collection

Four environments: Volcanic Winter, Hills, Maze and Cave. My documents and spatial maps show how I plan places that ask different things of players.

RoleLevel design, documents and maps
ToolsUnreal Engine 5 for Volcanic Winter; other map-production tools to confirm
ResearchVisual demands, environmental transitions, and cognitive pacing (Liu et al., 2024; Sweller, 2023)
Explore all four biomes ↗
03 / Applied Thesis

The Purpose of
Quiet Spaces.

My Applied Thesis, Negative and Liminal Spaces as Tools for Cognitive and Emotional Regulation in Game Design, explores how quieter spaces, reduced visual demand, and environmental transitions can shape pacing, player attention, and emotional experience. My project case studies will connect specific design decisions to scholarly research on attention restoration and cognitive load.

Research foundation: (Liu et al., 2024; Pham & Sanocki, 2024; Seyderhelm & Blackmore, 2023). Full APA references and project-specific research summaries will accompany the completed thesis submission.

“Not every space needs to demand attention. Some spaces give it back.”Personal design philosophy · Thesis direction
05 / Other Projects

Other Projects

Projects from my earlier game design coursework, game jams, and team collaborations.

Not part of my Applied Thesis. These projects are included for professional context and are separate from the thesis case studies.
View all other projects ↗
06 / Connect

Connect

Connect with me online.

LinkedIn
DiscordEllieElysia
Facebook
07 / Contact Me

Contact Me

I'm always excited to collaborate on new projects, share ideas, and continue learning alongside other passionate creators. Whether you're interested in discussing a potential opportunity, seeking feedback, or simply connecting over game design and storytelling, I'd love to hear from you!

Feel free to reach out! I will respond within 1-3 business days.

LocationSyracuse, NY
Personal emailJoelleJahns@gmail.com
Full Sail alumni emailJTJahns@alumni.fullsail.edu

For a direct reply, email JoelleJahns@gmail.com.