HELLO, MY NAME IS AKI JARVINEN
I’M A GAME INDUSTRY VETERAN & AN ACADEMIC WITH A PH.D.
ABOUT ME
I am a versatile expert on game development, game design, and business. My work experience consists of a mix of game and concept design, agile software development, prototyping, and academic research and teaching. I have senior management experience both in terms of people and products. My expertise has been recognized through a number of invited talks for notable game industry events: Game Developers Conference, GDC Europe, Casual Connect USA and Europe, Nordic Game, etc.
Most of free time I play in World of Warcraft and take some inspiration from there. Playing in WoW for me is even second work, my job is WoW boosting in BoostHive.
Creative Direction
Game and App Design
Prototyping (Swift, HTML5)
Agile/Lean Methods and Practices
Strategic Foresight
Teaching, public speaking
RESUME
2000-1
ICON MEDIALAB FINLAND
Copywriter & Concept Designer
Concept design, UI & UX design, and copywriting for a number of online services, including online retail sites, portals, and client intranets.
2002
UNIVERSITY OF TAMPERE, FINLAND
Assistant Professor
Research and lecturing responsibilities, focusing on games and game studies.
2002
FATHAMMER LTD
Game Designer
Designed games for the 3D mobile platform the company was developing.
2003 – 2008
VEIKKAUS THE FINNISH NATIONAL LOTTERY
Product Development Manager, Game Researcher & Designer
Worked in various R&D; and business development roles, focusing on developing online games and products.
2008 – 2009
IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN
Assistant Professor
Taught courses on game design and development. Conducted research into game design processes and methods, especially game design for social networks.
2009 – 2013
DIGITAL CHOCOLATE
Executive Producer, Creative Director, Lead Designer
Worked in various senior roles in the Helsinki studio, both leading development teams on games such as Army Attack! and managing the studio’s design department.
2013 – 2014
GRAND CRU
Product Lead
Set up and led a small development team in creating a mobile game concept through a prototype into first playable phase.
2014 – 2015
PLAYDEMIC LTD
General Manager
Leading game development teams in making state of the art mobile games.
2016-
SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY
Subject Group Leader, Creative Media
Managing the teaching staff across Animation, Games Design, and Digital Media Production courses. Contributing to research and strategic development initiatives.
SELECTED WORK 2002-15
