Calvin Nixon’s journey is shaped by determination and adaptability. After transitioning from electrician to aspiring game designer, he completed an internship at Criterion in 2023 and graduated in 2024 with an honours degree in Game Design. Since then, he’s focused on becoming the designer he knows he can be. Applying to the IG50 was a practical step toward breaking into the games industry. “I wanted to find a job in the games industry,” he explains, and the IG50 felt like a meaningful way to get his work in front of the right people. Winning the award gave him a standout moment: the chance to showcase his work at the Gamebridge event, an opportunity he still deeply appreciates. It offered visibility, industry contact, and a sense of belonging within a wider creative community. Like many emerging developers, Calvin has had to pivot into roles outside the industry to support himself. But his goal hasn’t changed. He’s continuing to build his skills, refine his design abilities, and stay connected to the field he wants to grow into. For those considering applying to the next IG50, Calvin would say “It is a good way to make connections in the game industry.” For Calvin, those connections and the confidence that comes from being recognised are what make the IG50 worth it.