Last week I started working on a continuation of my TotemHead map (above). I wanted to start explore GUI (Graphical User Interface) design a bit more, and working within my known project feels like a good way to approach the topic. There's no working game-play in TotemHead, but I know how the game works in theory well enough for me to hash out some interface pieces, and have them fit together cohesively.
I started doing some research in best GUI practices, and it led me into an off-topic rabbit hole that actually didn't feel that off topic- board game graphic design! Modern board games fill a really interested niche in game development; many are much more involved than your typical game of CandyLand (still a good game, though). And a lot of them have *really* cool art. I decided to pull together a prototype for one of these cool and complex games and give a new spin to the graphics for the game.
I started doing some research in best GUI practices, and it led me into an off-topic rabbit hole that actually didn't feel that off topic- board game graphic design! Modern board games fill a really interested niche in game development; many are much more involved than your typical game of CandyLand (still a good game, though). And a lot of them have *really* cool art. I decided to pull together a prototype for one of these cool and complex games and give a new spin to the graphics for the game.
The game is a thorough, scientific look at the intricacies of building and maintaining a space exploration mission. Because I didn't receive permission to name the game here, I'm just gonig to ominously call is "the game". Ultimately the proposal was turned down for being too Fi and not enough Sci. The game itself is designed by actual rocket scientists! We both decided I probably wasn't the right fit due to my stylistic renditions of real spacecrafts, but I had a lot of fun with the project and wanted to share my process a bit.
To the left is a breakdown of the back of the card's design. I decided to look to 1960's space-race aesthetics for the core theme of the project, with just a hint of Ancient Greek Astrology for good measure. I combined the bright green (slightly flickering) digital screens from Hollywood renditions of mission control rooms- the project was grounded in real science, but I wanted to connect with viewers who know the fundamentals of space exploration from bits of news clips and and movies like 2001 and Armageddon. For the glitched text on the title of the card, I dug through some YouTube for inspiration, this one in particular was a huge help. Overall this was a fun project to take on, and I will be keeping board game illustration on my radar for future projects! |