Getting to Knowmade: Cait Goodale
Cait Goodale
Principal UI/UX Designer
Cait is our much-beloved UI/UX Designer - she’s all about the expeeeerience, darling!! Always clad in the sauciest vintage, there isn’t a detail that escapes her notice. Cait works tirelessly to make sure every bit o’ text, box and button players find are easy to understand, runs smoother than butter, and looks mighty snazzy to boot. So let’s get to know her a bit, shall we?
My dearest Cait, what do you do at Glowmade?
I’m our Principal UI/UX Designer, making me principal goblin hoarder of shiny buttons and swooshy animations.
Now how would your mum describe your job?
"I think she does something with computers… I never would have thought drawing emo sparkledogs for all of high school could be a real career!"
How did you get to this point in your career?
By being a weird kid, and then adult, who always played games with a spreadsheet by her side, reading every book in the game and getting frustrated by complicated button inputs. I've always thought about games from a user-centred perspective, and I think you'll always lean towards your passions when you get into the industry.
I did internships as a 2D/graphic artist (as a pixel art intern on Minecraft's Xbox360 release BACK IN THE DAY) and at Microsoft. I then got a more UX focused role at King, and since then have bounced between various games and tech companies doing kinda whatever it takes to make a good user experience for the player - whether that's usability testing or shiny buttons and animations, or even teaching studios about how to build a better user-centred design culture. I've done a bit of everything :)
What made you want to pursue games?
Playing Viva Piñata and realising someone had to make all the irreverent jokes and fun UI pieces that popped up on screen. I realised the people who made games probably had the same weird humour and skills in art and technology that I did. YOLO, eh?
Share something you love doing outside of everything video games.
I'm just a girl (with too many hobbies). I sing pretty seriously with an A Capella vocal ensemble called Vocal Shack. I collect, repair and wear 1970s fashion (early Laura Ashley being my OTP), write a blog about design leadership and study fine art printmaking. She's multifaceted ✨
Who or what inspires you?
Singer/songwriter/creative muses like Florence Welch, Robin Pecknold, Chappell Roan, Lucy Dacus, The Staves. Music and art go hand in hand.
What game do you wish you could’ve developed?
Hades! Gorgeous, illustrative, accessible UI. A personal standard I aim for. I wish!
Share something you appreciate about yourself. Give yaself a pat on the back, why don’t ya?
I had a really crap 2019/20 (moving country, losing my dad, getting locked down in a country where I had few friends). I've gone on to achieve so much that I didn't think was possible during that crap time in my life, from doing very serious senior leadership jobs, speaking at conferences, getting married etc. So I'm proud of how resilient I have proven myself to be!
“If not now, then when?”
What's the best thing about working at Glowmade?
Free bagels every day. Just kidding, it's actually how talented and experienced the people around me are. I can trust every department to not only be competent in their work but also to be kind! The bar is on the FLOOR, rest of games industry.
Anyone on the team who stands out as a role model, or source of inspiration, perhaps?
Can't pick because everyone is great. No, really.
What do you want from your career? What goals are you looking forward to vaulting past?
I want to make games people have heard of and I can be proud of! I've already done a lot (too much? Questionable?) in my career, so honestly? Making fat stacks of cash working 4 days a week so I can have a house with a secret garden, painting studio and a Borzoi. THE CAREER IS ALL IN SERVICE OF THIS DREAM.
What are your top tips for someone looking to get into games?
Lean into your strengths and passions! The games industry perfectly encapsulates "i am cringe but I am free." When I started studying (in the olden days) UI didn't reaaaally exist as a craft? Job roles and games are constantly changing, so you have to be true to yourself to find your place in the industry.
I recommend learning the basics of your area and leaning into what sparks your passion. If you're interested in it, I bet studios will be too! Also join positive, uplifting spaces and communities to help yourself grow!
In your opinion, who is the cutest Glowmade pet?
Tuna, no question.
If you had to pick one game to play for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Stardew Valley, because this is basically my life anyway.
What's your guilty pleasure?
Trashy fantasy romance novels and otome games.
There's one biscuit left in the tin and it's your favourite... what is it?
PARTY RINGS!!!
