When Taran Kratz and I co-founded Zeroic Games in 2013, our mission was clear: design the games we would most want to play. HELIONOX was the first of those games...a sci-fi deckbuilder that would deliver a fast-paced, action-packed experience without sacrificing thematic or strategic depth.
I was the Art Director for Helionox and provided all of the illustrations and much of the graphic design for the game. The specification for the game called for over 100 unique illustrations, so I had to be resourceful and efficient with the design pipeline in order to hit our production targets. I feel this project was when I really came into my own in terms of mastering industry standard design tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. The success of Helionox was also the spark that set me on a career path toward design and UX.
My team and I cut our game design teeth on Helionox, teaching ourselves all aspects of printing, packaging, and component design. Unlike digital products, we couldn’t ‘ship early and often,’ and had to exercise a meticulous approach to crafting and proofing every detail of the game.
One of our Kickstarter stretch goals was a free, downloadable digital storybook that would give our backers a deeper look into the rich world behind the game. I am currently working on illustrations and layout for the storybook. Below are a couple of concepts for the cover.