Kelsey Pickinpaugh
@spacedcadette.bsky.social
Game Dev. I've worked at some game studios you know. Currently Lead UX Designer @ Firaxis Games
Views expressed here are my own.
(she / her)
Views expressed here are my own.
(she / her)
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
Guess who's raising money for Children's Hospital this year?
Join us on November 15 for some Eye of the North shenanigans and tales from the vault. #extralife #guildwars
www.extra-life.org/participants...
Join us on November 15 for some Eye of the North shenanigans and tales from the vault. #extralife #guildwars
www.extra-life.org/participants...
Extra Life | Change Kids' Health, Change the Future
I'm raising funds with #EXTRALIFE for kids treated at my Children's Miracle Network Hospitals! I need your help to reach my fundraising goal. Please donate today to change kids' health.
www.extra-life.org
October 11, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Guess who's raising money for Children's Hospital this year?
Join us on November 15 for some Eye of the North shenanigans and tales from the vault. #extralife #guildwars
www.extra-life.org/participants...
Join us on November 15 for some Eye of the North shenanigans and tales from the vault. #extralife #guildwars
www.extra-life.org/participants...
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
Hey quick tip: you’ll have more success communicating with strangers on here if you’re not a weirdly aggressive and offputting little freak that no one likes
October 24, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Hey quick tip: you’ll have more success communicating with strangers on here if you’re not a weirdly aggressive and offputting little freak that no one likes
Much of my life has been spent surrounded by Drew Struzan’s art. It’s practically woven into my DNA with so many vivid memories of picking up VHS tapes and books just to stare at his art on the covers.
October 14, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Much of my life has been spent surrounded by Drew Struzan’s art. It’s practically woven into my DNA with so many vivid memories of picking up VHS tapes and books just to stare at his art on the covers.
Great Vancouver show last night by @murderxbryan.bsky.social, Chris James and their guests Jon Gabrus and @stefanheck.bsky.social
Was totally worth jumping on the train from Seattle for. Also, we definitely need to spend more than 4 hours in Vancouver next time. Cool city.
Was totally worth jumping on the train from Seattle for. Also, we definitely need to spend more than 4 hours in Vancouver next time. Cool city.
October 4, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Great Vancouver show last night by @murderxbryan.bsky.social, Chris James and their guests Jon Gabrus and @stefanheck.bsky.social
Was totally worth jumping on the train from Seattle for. Also, we definitely need to spend more than 4 hours in Vancouver next time. Cool city.
Was totally worth jumping on the train from Seattle for. Also, we definitely need to spend more than 4 hours in Vancouver next time. Cool city.
Could things just be a little less bad for a bit? Please?
September 30, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Could things just be a little less bad for a bit? Please?
I’m reading @monteiro.bsky.social’s book ‘Ruined by Design’ again because it’s more relevant than ever.
“Either by action or inaction, through fault or ignorance, we have designed the world to behave exactly as it's behaving right now. These are our chickens coming home to roost.”
“Either by action or inaction, through fault or ignorance, we have designed the world to behave exactly as it's behaving right now. These are our chickens coming home to roost.”
September 19, 2025 at 8:38 PM
I’m reading @monteiro.bsky.social’s book ‘Ruined by Design’ again because it’s more relevant than ever.
“Either by action or inaction, through fault or ignorance, we have designed the world to behave exactly as it's behaving right now. These are our chickens coming home to roost.”
“Either by action or inaction, through fault or ignorance, we have designed the world to behave exactly as it's behaving right now. These are our chickens coming home to roost.”
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
so many dead canaries and we just keep on mining
September 17, 2025 at 11:10 PM
so many dead canaries and we just keep on mining
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
Folks, you can't report the United States to its manager. There's no superhero coming to save us.
We don't need one giant act of heroism. We need millions of small acts of solidarity. Help one person in your community for nothing in return. Then, do it again. And again.
That's the revolution.
We don't need one giant act of heroism. We need millions of small acts of solidarity. Help one person in your community for nothing in return. Then, do it again. And again.
That's the revolution.
September 19, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Folks, you can't report the United States to its manager. There's no superhero coming to save us.
We don't need one giant act of heroism. We need millions of small acts of solidarity. Help one person in your community for nothing in return. Then, do it again. And again.
That's the revolution.
We don't need one giant act of heroism. We need millions of small acts of solidarity. Help one person in your community for nothing in return. Then, do it again. And again.
That's the revolution.
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
The tragedy of the UX Designer is being completely incapable of using technology without losing your entire fucking mind.
September 4, 2025 at 7:34 PM
The tragedy of the UX Designer is being completely incapable of using technology without losing your entire fucking mind.
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
Hi! I was laid off from Firaxis this morning. I wrote leaders and civs for Civilization VII (NDA for now) and Deadpool and Storm for Marvel's Midnight Suns. I also wrote the award-nominated Hindsight.
I'm available for full time, remote work starting ASAP. DMs are open:
emmkid.info
I'm available for full time, remote work starting ASAP. DMs are open:
emmkid.info
Portfolio
emmkid.info
September 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Hi! I was laid off from Firaxis this morning. I wrote leaders and civs for Civilization VII (NDA for now) and Deadpool and Storm for Marvel's Midnight Suns. I also wrote the award-nominated Hindsight.
I'm available for full time, remote work starting ASAP. DMs are open:
emmkid.info
I'm available for full time, remote work starting ASAP. DMs are open:
emmkid.info
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
Hey y'all- I was impacted by the layoffs at Firaxis this morning. If you or anyone you know needs a mid to senior level materials artist that has experience in building material libraries, lighting, 2D art, and props I'm your girl!https://www.artstation.com/daniellazeman
Daniella Zeman
Concept/Materials/Lighting @ Firaxis Games
www.artstation.com
September 4, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Hey y'all- I was impacted by the layoffs at Firaxis this morning. If you or anyone you know needs a mid to senior level materials artist that has experience in building material libraries, lighting, 2D art, and props I'm your girl!https://www.artstation.com/daniellazeman
Maya very quickly became one of my favorite people at the studio when I started. Hire them. Seriously. They’re freaking great and you’d be silly not to snap them up.
I got laid off from Firaxis today. I helped ship Marvel's Midnight Suns DLC and Civilization VII, and would love to talk to you about mid level Producer roles.
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Maya very quickly became one of my favorite people at the studio when I started. Hire them. Seriously. They’re freaking great and you’d be silly not to snap them up.
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
I got laid off from Firaxis today. I helped ship Marvel's Midnight Suns DLC and Civilization VII, and would love to talk to you about mid level Producer roles.
September 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I got laid off from Firaxis today. I helped ship Marvel's Midnight Suns DLC and Civilization VII, and would love to talk to you about mid level Producer roles.
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
I was a Firaxis narrative designer/writer and lost my job today. Any help sharing leads on new opportunities would be great!
Over 3.5 years, I contributed to Civilization VII and Marvel’s Midnight Suns, helping turn maps, mechanics, and chaos into memorable stories. See my work benreeves.carrd.co
Over 3.5 years, I contributed to Civilization VII and Marvel’s Midnight Suns, helping turn maps, mechanics, and chaos into memorable stories. See my work benreeves.carrd.co
Benjamin Reeves Is Incredible
Ben Reeves narrative designer and writer
benreeves.carrd.co
September 4, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I was a Firaxis narrative designer/writer and lost my job today. Any help sharing leads on new opportunities would be great!
Over 3.5 years, I contributed to Civilization VII and Marvel’s Midnight Suns, helping turn maps, mechanics, and chaos into memorable stories. See my work benreeves.carrd.co
Over 3.5 years, I contributed to Civilization VII and Marvel’s Midnight Suns, helping turn maps, mechanics, and chaos into memorable stories. See my work benreeves.carrd.co
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
duh i'm Magritte i can't paint faces for shit duhhh
September 25, 2023 at 5:07 PM
duh i'm Magritte i can't paint faces for shit duhhh
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
This is what journalism being "data driven" has caused (+growth profit motivation)
Being data driven is to be short sighted, reactive, and to lack context
Yes, you should talk to your audience - but be informed by them, not driven by them (same applies in UX Research in general)
Being data driven is to be short sighted, reactive, and to lack context
Yes, you should talk to your audience - but be informed by them, not driven by them (same applies in UX Research in general)
"but crime is a real issue, people are worried about crime and you have to take that seriously"
No you don't! If people are getting more scared about crime while crime is happening less frequently, it's a made up issue and you should make a point of yelling that all the time
No you don't! If people are getting more scared about crime while crime is happening less frequently, it's a made up issue and you should make a point of yelling that all the time
August 16, 2025 at 10:26 PM
This is what journalism being "data driven" has caused (+growth profit motivation)
Being data driven is to be short sighted, reactive, and to lack context
Yes, you should talk to your audience - but be informed by them, not driven by them (same applies in UX Research in general)
Being data driven is to be short sighted, reactive, and to lack context
Yes, you should talk to your audience - but be informed by them, not driven by them (same applies in UX Research in general)
Okay. I get it. Wylder’s hookshot is kind of the shit. #nightreign
August 5, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Okay. I get it. Wylder’s hookshot is kind of the shit. #nightreign
If you followed me after that layoffs tweet a couple weeks back I’m sorry. This is what it’s actually like here most of the time.
Sometimes you just gotta take an edible and stare up at the ceiling light for a couple of hours.
July 31, 2025 at 2:01 AM
If you followed me after that layoffs tweet a couple weeks back I’m sorry. This is what it’s actually like here most of the time.
Sometimes you just gotta take an edible and stare up at the ceiling light for a couple of hours.
July 31, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Sometimes you just gotta take an edible and stare up at the ceiling light for a couple of hours.
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
an utter lack of curiosity is a defining quality of the worst people u know
July 31, 2025 at 1:17 AM
an utter lack of curiosity is a defining quality of the worst people u know
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
As a maker of exceptionally sexless art, I just wanna say publicly that any attempt at censorship of the arts is to be resisted. NSFW art is always an easy target, but it’s also always only the first step in a chain, not to mention the artistic value of this stuff in its own right.
July 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
As a maker of exceptionally sexless art, I just wanna say publicly that any attempt at censorship of the arts is to be resisted. NSFW art is always an easy target, but it’s also always only the first step in a chain, not to mention the artistic value of this stuff in its own right.
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
The Final Fantasy XIV soundtrack rules because 90% of it is comprised of some of the loveliest orchestral pieces in video games, and then they'll say "fuck it, this boss is getting a Nine Inch Nails song"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfNo...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfNo...
魔神 ～魔神セフィロト討滅戦～
YouTube video by Masayoshi Soken - Topic
www.youtube.com
July 26, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The Final Fantasy XIV soundtrack rules because 90% of it is comprised of some of the loveliest orchestral pieces in video games, and then they'll say "fuck it, this boss is getting a Nine Inch Nails song"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfNo...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfNo...
Girl, same.
July 9, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Girl, same.
Went back through my camera roll and found this. Edibles must’ve been involved because I don’t remember doing this.
Not a terrible list. Honestly, makes a lot of sense the more I look at it. 😅
Not a terrible list. Honestly, makes a lot of sense the more I look at it. 😅
July 8, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Went back through my camera roll and found this. Edibles must’ve been involved because I don’t remember doing this.
Not a terrible list. Honestly, makes a lot of sense the more I look at it. 😅
Not a terrible list. Honestly, makes a lot of sense the more I look at it. 😅
Reposted by Kelsey Pickinpaugh
