Bringing Game Design and Graphic Design Together

Looking back on the history of video games, it’s hard not to be impressed by how far they’ve come in a relatively short period of time. From the simple pixelated graphics of the 1980s that wowed players around the world to the complex, immersive experiences that have defined gaming over the past decade, gaming has undergone many changes that have changed entertainment as we know it. 

However, what we don’t spend much time talking about is how the blend of technology, art, and storytelling that’s found in gaming has turned it into a cultural force. Gaming is now taken seriously as a cultural and artistic field, and we can see its influence in a wide range of creative industries, including the similarities in game design and graphic design. It’s a natural comparison, given visual storytelling, user experience, and aesthetic innovation play such a big role in both industries. In this article, we look at how game and graphic design complement each other and how they could collaborate to shape modern visual culture. 

Visual Storytelling as a Shared Goal

When we think about game design and graphic design, something that stands out is how they both use visual elements to communicate with and emotionally connect to an audience. Visual storytelling is a big part of some of the most well-known titles in gaming, and it’s the glue that connects players to the worlds and narratives of the games they play. If you’ve played a game like Journey or Hollow Knight, you’re familiar with this experience. These titles use art and design to create stories that get gamers invested in the game and hold their attention. They tell their stories through these visuals without bogging players down with excessive dialogue or text. 

We can see something similar in online casinos, where game design plays an important role in creating an immersive experience that makes players feel like they’re on the casino floor. These online platforms have introduced games like poker to a new audience and given veteran players a new way to enjoy the famous card game. In addition to creating a realistic atmosphere around the game, online casinos often provide tips and resources for those who want to learn how to play poker and more advanced information for those who know their way around the poker table. All of this is done in an online setting designed to deliver an experience that’s similar to what’s found in brick-and-mortar casinos. 

After reading all of this, you may be wondering what that has to do with graphic design. If we look at the tools graphic designers use, like imagery, color, typography, and layout, to communicate with audiences, the relationship between the two becomes more obvious. Just like game designers, graphic designers want their work to convey a message and emotionally connect with target audiences. Instead of gaming, they’re concerned with branding and putting together visual themes that establish a brand’s identity in the minds of potential consumers. 

User Experience and Interface Design

Two of the biggest buzzwords in the design world are user experience (UX) and user interface design (UI). It’s easy to understand why — without effective UX and UI, whatever a designer is trying to achieve is likely to fall flat and fail to connect with the audience they had in mind. The goal of UX and UI in gaming and graphic design is to make the experience intuitive and engaging for the user. If you think about a game you played recently and really enjoyed, there’s a good chance it pulled you in from the start. Even if some of the gameplay was complicated, you likely found it accessible and were able to get through the game world without too many problems. What you may not have known at the time was that UX and UI were a big part of why you found the game entertaining. 

The same can be said of graphic design. When done well, a website or app using these principles has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for visitors to find the information they need quickly. When you click on a product you’re interested in, you get where you want to go and don’t have to waste time searching for it. UX and UI are two of the most important commonalities in the fields of game design and graphic design.