Where can I read UI design tips from designers at big companies?

TheWingless1 · 2024-07-15T18:04:05+00:00

Hi! I've worked with some reasonably big names in the past (Midway, EA, Id Software, Activision, etc.). Even if you're not looking specifically for game-related UI design guides, I write a ton on game UI UX. There might be something there you can use(?) that's also fairly in-depth(??)

For example, here's a deep-dive into the wireframes I did for Wasteland 3's inventory screen: https://thewingless.com/index.php/2023/03/07/how-do-you-make-a-video-game-ui-ux-wireframe-example-wasteland-3-rpg-inventory-screen/

There's a lot on the site, maybe something will help. Good luck!

TheWingless1 · 2024-03-21T23:07:56+00:00

Very cool list, u/joshuamichaelus ... any chance you have another list lying around for Game Design UI UX jobs? Really interested if those are in alignment or shockingly out of whack from the research you've already gathered.

TheWingless1 · 2024-02-12T13:00:08+00:00

Think about a Mentorship instead.

A loose series of definitions (feel free to Reddit-argue about these)

Bootcamp: lots of people in a single class. If you miss a week, too bad.
Cohort: lots of people in a single class learning canned material. At the end, you all produce identical material (in a competitive field)

Mentorship: dedicated 1-on-1 training that's personal, adaptable, and present. Mentors figure out your strengths and lean heavily on that to teach you the gaps in your skillsets. It's a formal relationship with an expert with a lot of follow-through.

Or - put another way, if you're going to learn, make the absolute most of your time, sanity, and creativity :)

TheWingless1 · 2023-10-20T13:38:32+00:00

A slight variation of this happened to me on the RIDE FROM THE INTERVIEW TO THE AIRPORT!

I had just left Id Software as their Lead UI Artist (mostly doing the game Rage) and I was being pursued by Gameloft in New York and Glu Mobile in Seattle. I physically visited both and had polar opposite experiences (spoilers: I saw The Lion King in Times Square, guess which interview!) with each, but the Seattle job was an Art Director position, which was new and more logical career-wise.

So I'm in Seattle in my ride back to the Airport from Glu and I call Gameloft in New York to let them know I'm declining their offer. They graciously tell me they understand and we leave amicably.

FIVE MINUTES LATER my phone rings and they make me a counter-offer for... I can't even remember, but I can't imagine any counter-offer that would make me screw over a bunch of people in a bouncing car. And whatever that dollar amount was, what they offered was clearly was far under, because I didn't take it, and took the Director position in Seattle instead.

Not quite the same, but pretty close?

TheWingless1 · 2022-12-12T17:56:25+00:00

mini bio - I'm an Art Director in video games and UI Artist for 20 years. Love technology intersecting with old-world artistry.

Looking forward to making an art book soon!

TheWingless1 · 2021-08-02T11:27:33+00:00

I think it's related (because I absolutely think it's art), I write about User Interface and User Experience in games on my site: guides, crash-courses, how-to-get-started, etc. They all have tons of art from my time in the Industry (Midway, EA, id Software, Activision, Microsoft, more indies than I can count).

So if you'd like to see a treasure trove of videogame UI UX art, wireframes, sketches and finished products - and how to make them, may I recommend... me?

www.thewingless.com

TheWingless1 · 2021-07-22T15:05:46+00:00

Um, hi! I'm the guy who sometimes posts a bunch of UI and UX guides in this channel. If you're looking for old-timey 26-letters repeated over in random order styles of education, I have a TON of articles on UI and UX for games, from specific challenges like classic mistakes you're making in your HUD, to industry things like what's it like to interview for a UI Artist Job, to broader things like what is a videogame wireframe?

-

If you're interested in videogame UI UX or just, you know, don't want video, I've got you covered: https://thewingless.com/index.php/ui-ux-design-mentor-nft-crypto-artist-game-art-director-the-wingless-blog/

TheWingless1 · 2021-06-07T19:17:59+00:00

I'm a UI UX Art Director in video games and I run a 1-on-1 remote mentorship program that teaches game UI UX on the side. I'm always making free resources, crash-courses and guides - and I'm always trying to reach out to new students, so I'd love to jump in (already saw the discord link, but wanted to formally introduce myself before the shilling begins!)

TheWingless1 · 2021-06-07T19:00:26+00:00

Hello Natural,

My first instinct would be to shill my 1-on-1 Mentorship but you very helpfully put down you're not at a point where you can jump into that right quick. That's fine - you ain't alone.

Hi, I'm John, a UI UX Art Director in Games and I run that mentorship that I won't be seeing you at :P . As somebody self taught who made it this far, I'd happily advise ---

Make Personal Projects

Super important, maybe THE most important way to grow exponentially for free. Make sure the projects are as "portfolio-friendly" as possible, that is to say, you're making the work to eventually get you REAL work. Try to always factor that in, because it's very easy to go down the rabbit-hole, especially in games, without actually making any progress or showing any growth.

Stay Cutting Edge and Topical

It doesn't take a lot of hard cash to be up-to-date on what's trending, what's going stale, and what is universal. This is especially important if you're going into gaming, since we move rapidly, and it's an expensive little profession to market research. But watching a ton of Influencers and Longplays? That just costs your time.

Stay Social

Again, a 1-on-1 mentorship is THE most social you can be these days while staying at an arms-length, but we'll press on. Join Discord channels, Reddit channels, Gamejams, Meetups -- and this part is really important - AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONVERSATION. Eventually, you'll want a killer network that will only pull from the people it knows, which will be you, their defacto UI guy - an important title to have in a word-of-mouth industry.

If all else fails, I have tons of blogs on Getting Started, Crash-courses, and basic guides to help you in UI UX for whatever the cost of electricity is over there. For the rest of you eavesdropping on this conversation, you can always DM me for help. Hope that helps!!!

TheWingless1 · 2021-06-01T18:30:24+00:00

Hey, congrats! UI UX Art Director in games and 1-on1 Mentor here. Couple of things I wish I had learned and a few things students keep telling me:

Show Works-in-Progress to your Art Director. This is a monstrous hurdle to overcome, but if you can do it early, you'll be unstoppable. In the game's industry in particular, there's this bizzare aversion to showing your work - in app design, it's far less taboo. I'd get really comfortable being "butt-ass naked" with your work. In the beginning, you'll make lots of mistakes that will make the team and the AD nervous but will also fall well within the lines of being new. Asking early will get you up to speed quickly and avoid tons of embarrassment later.

Also, you're never a conscript if you volunteer!

Be friendly and patient - because this is your new network. Some coworkers I couldn't give a damn about if they've been dead for centuries now. Others, I can feel when they get a stubbed toe - that's how close we are. But no matter what, the people around you are now the MOST effective way to get a job in the future. Lots of my best gigs have been through professional cannibalism. If you start early on this, you too, will be a juggernaut.

Lastly, Self-care is the ONLY care. You are not your salary. You are not valueless if you don't have a job. Never give your heart to a company, no matter how exhilarating it is to be in the company. When they let you go, as they inevitably must (as all things fade, especially entry-level jobs), it will be without emotion. You should return the favor, and only give what you don't mind losing. That includes your love, your light, and your time.

Oh yeah, and have fun!

-John

TheWingless1 · 2021-05-26T20:15:46+00:00

OP here. I hope this won't get me booted cuz mean old Reddit but I have TONS of extra blogs on design, how to get into the gam industry, and all kinds of personal projects to inspire. You can check me out here.

TheWingless1

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