Team and Roles
I collaborated closely with developers on the tutorial redesign, campfire UI, in-game chat, and other features. Independently I conducted a comprehensive game UI analysis, providing actionable insights to the Project Managers.
The Process
Defining requirements and Research
Participated in discussions with Game Designer to confirm the art direction and style.
I performed research by analyzing gameplay videos of top-down games and their UI with in-game chat features. This included titles like League of Legends, Diablo IV, Don’t Starve Together, Foxhole, and Wayfinder. The wide scope allowed me to identify common UI solutions across different styles and genres, providing a foundation for further design decisions. It was necessary to find out what and how to correct, to improve the current UI adapted from Survival Nation (i.e. colors, layout).
Planning and Design
I reated a moodboard with UI inspirations and references, selected color palette, and established the information architecture. I regularly discussed these elements to ensure alignment with the project’s goals. I used UX techniques to refine the design based on the research outcomes. This iterative process involved of course frequent gathering and implementing feedback.
Prototyping, Testing and Iterations
I collaborated with the Game Designer to validate the user flow for new features, and created mockups, followed by initial dry-runs and A/B testing in each case.
Implementation
I worked closely with developers during the implementation, making necessary adjustments. I was not responsible for implementing the UI in Unity, but I collaborated with the developers to ensure the final product matched the design. Minor refinements were made, until final version was approved and implemented in the game.