I am my team. They are a reflection of me, and I am of them

An interview with Kristina Larionova, Creative Director at Burny Games

Kristina, the first question is obvious: What does a Creative Director do at Burny Games?

My responsibility as Creative Director is to set up an efficient and productive creative process where everything runs like clockwork: during busy periods, vacations, increased workload, etc. To cover the needs of the business, which are divided into several areas that the Creative Department covers: product, marketing, and The Team (HR and PR brand). It's essential to understand that there would be no Creative Director without a Creative Department. And that's what shapes me as a Creative Director. My powerful team. Because I am my team. They are a reflection of me, and I am of them. These are UX/UI designers, Unity integrators and animators, artists, a promo department with a motion team, graphic designers, and playable developers. All of them are the Creative Director of Burny Games, working as a single organism.

"The most important thing is my team. They are a reflection of me, and I am a reflection of them."

Why did you choose a creative path and build a career in this field?

Once, in school, an optional drawing class was offered. I was interested and started attending. This was my first step into the world of colors, shapes, and compositions, which opened up my concept of creativity. You can CREATE your own world, and then another, your OWN landscape, whatever you want. It's incredible! If only I knew then what this would turn into. But it was a "child's hobby" back then and eventually got lost in other activities. It came back in university, although my specialization was technical. I remember that, in graduate school, we were told to create a website with information about ourselves. And while I was developing and coding all of this, I realized it was exciting! That's how Adobe Photoshop came into my life. And that's it, chain reaction activated: Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, what else is there? Developing the visual part overtook programming and became a priority. Over time, I understood how important it is to combine creativity with an analytical approach to achieve success in digital design and then in business (when I was already absorbing commercial experience).

How exactly do you use this ability in your work?

I don't just create visually appealing designs. I strategically craft visual solutions that attract the eye and effectively communicate with different audiences on different platforms. 

My approach is based on data analysis and understanding players' needs, allowing me to create the most effective and aesthetically balanced solutions.

You have a very clear understanding of beauty, as well as the ability to systematize aesthetics. How difficult is it to be such a person? :)

It's a curse! I feel like I have a professional deformation. For example, walking down the street, I might notice a billboard that could be improved: it could be the composition, the title, the image, etc. Or shopping for two identical (at first glance) white T-shirts: this T-shirt is better than that one. Why? The first one looks stylish. A feeling. I feel it first and then articulate what exactly, in this case, fits the concept of "stylish." It's like with paints: when you paint a picture, you know every shade, but you don't always need to put it on the canvas, you know exactly which one is needed here. And sometimes you know several options for the composition of shades, but you think this particular one is needed here. So, in general, I perceive everything as it is. First, I try to understand "what for" it was done this way because there's a reason for everything.

Do you consider yourself a gamer?

I wouldn't divide it into "black" and "white." Many friends or colleagues say, "We'll get together and play something on Friday. Okay, let's go." And that's cool! I don't have one favorite game, but there are games that I like. For example, Assassin's Creed. I follow new releases, and sometimes, I play to experience the atmosphere and story and to see how the game develops. I'm interested in how developers work on the product and implement their ideas. This approach applies to all games that interest me in one way or another, whether in a work plan or a personal one. Once, a friend bought God of War and wanted to play it so much that at a party, it got to the point where he was playing, got stuck somewhere, and I watched streams in parallel and told him what to do. A win-win situation: I was interested in how everything was balanced and what would happen next; he was enjoying himself and passing it.

Tell us about your first gaming experience.

My grandfather – it's all him! He "brought" me into this industry. He was very interested in various technologies; he was a scientist himself, had a PhD in physics and mathematics, and worked at an institute where, at that age, I played computer games after school. That was my first gaming and computer experience (not counting GameBoy with Tetris and a console with cartridges, which he also gave me and where we competed to see who had the better score). On the computer, the first games were Lines and a racing game. At that time, it was magic. I liked that there was movement, that something was happening and then unfolding into something else. How is this done? And how else can it be done? This was my first acquaintance not only with games but also with the desire to figure out how everything works on the screen and how it got on the screen in the first place.

What was your first job?

Actually, I didn't start with games. My first job was as a promoter at the airport. This experience was interesting and valuable, although I didn't realize it then. My main task was to "sell" a service that, in fact, was of high quality but still convincing people that they needed it - that's quite a quest. It was a significant experience where I learned to understand the essence of the product, its methodology, and how to argue it to the consumer, revealing the product's value for their benefit.

How would you assess your approach to team management?

Trust. That's what's important and what's mutual. Our team is a group of professional individuals who have come together for one goal — the progressive success of Burny Games. We practice an open approach where every team member has the opportunity to contribute their ideas and feels responsible for the end result. This fosters our creativity and allows us to adapt quickly to changing market conditions.

…every team member has the opportunity to contribute their ideas and feels responsible for the end result.

What allows you to manage such a team that comes to you with solutions?

Firstly, the goal is to have such a team. It's a treasure, as it says. Self-sufficiency is a rocket skill: you have a goal and choose how to achieve it; there are many options, especially in the creative field. My experience in various roles, starting as a designer and moving up to a manager, has given me a deeper understanding of the work processes in creative and related fields. This allows me to estimate the time needed to complete tasks and generally manage projects more effectively.

Self-sufficiency is a rocket skill!

Secondly, observation and systematization skills are essential. I don't impose my vision but always give the "green light" for the team to propose ideas and jointly find the best solutions. This approach allows us to achieve more effective and successful results.

What are the three most important qualities you would highlight in a potential specialist?

Firstly, culture is an important concept that includes communication, interaction, respect, and mutual assistance. We are guided by this foundation in our daily communication and task execution. We freely discuss all aspects with great respect and attention to our colleagues. For example, we might use sharp jokes during calls, but always with the understanding that there's a line we don't cross.

The second is the ability to see oneself and understand one's development. It's one thing when you follow clear instructions and quite another when you strive for self-improvement. This increases motivation to learn and find new approaches and improves productivity. I always support my team in their desire to grow, which is very important. Of course, not everyone is interested in this, but there aren't such people on our team :)

And thirdly, curiosity, openness to new things, and the desire to achieve even greater heights. During the first conversation, I always inquire about technical skills. Still, I also pay attention to the person's interests, views, style of thinking, and life in general. What is valuable to them? Even if the person has impressive technical knowledge, the team will be uncomfortable with them, so we will consider other candidates. It's not because there's something wrong with the person; it's the term "cultural matching," and yes, it might not match, but that's okay. It's different in every company.

How do you find rest? And grow as a leader?

I find rest in many ways, like a river with many tributaries. Sometimes, I sit by the fire of my computer, learning new technologies and ways of doing things or simply enjoying discovering something new, like AI or new tools. Other times, I run like riding my skateboard, and sometimes, I reflect in the quiet in a park.

To grow as a leader, I examine myself and my team. I read articles and listen to podcasts and videos about my field and related areas. I talk to other leads, and we add, remove, or change things together.

What advice would you give those just starting their journey in gaming?

The most important thing is desire and confidence, like a young warrior setting out on their first quest. If you have these, you can learn anything. Be bold and take on freelance projects, do free work or student projects to gain experience and build a portfolio, and attend conferences like a young brave seeking wisdom from elders. This approach often becomes the starting point for success, like a seed that grows into a mighty tree.

Thank you for the interesting conversation, Kristina!

Thank you, too!

Join Kristina's team via our career page!