The Spark: From Childhood Gamer to UI/UX Designer
You know that moment when your past and present suddenly collide? That's what happened to me recently. I found myself thinking about how I used to play GTA Vice City as a kid, long before I could even read or write. Somehow, I managed to complete missions and progress through the game. It got me wondering - how did I do that?
Fast forward to today, and I'm a UI/UX designer. I've worked on all sorts of projects - dashboards, mobile apps, websites, you name it. But something was missing. I kept thinking about those gaming experiences from my childhood, and it hit me - what if I could combine my design skills with my love for games?
That's when I decided to take on a personal project: redesigning Overwatch 2 for mobile. Why Overwatch 2? Well, why not? It's a game I love, and it doesn't have a mobile version. Perfect challenge, right?
The Journey: Diving into Game UI/UX
At first, I thought about taking a course in game UI/UX design. I even found one taught by someone who worked on some of my favorite games. But when I saw the price tag - $2,500 with a discount - I hesitated. After looking at some of the course projects, I realized something: I already knew a lot of this stuff. Why not just dive in and learn by doing?
So that's exactly what I did. I started by mapping out the screens I'd need to design. Then I went down a rabbit hole of researching other mobile FPS games. How did they handle things like health bars, ability cooldowns, and kill feeds on such small screens?
The real challenge came when I had to decide between two approaches: stick to the conventional mobile FPS layout or create something uniquely "Overwatch". In the end, I couldn't choose - so I did both! I created two different versions of the design, each with its own strengths.
Let me tell you, designing for a game is a whole different beast compared to my usual work. Every element has to serve a purpose, and it needs to be instantly understandable in the heat of battle. No time for fancy animations or clever microcopy here!
One of the toughest parts was the kill feed. It seems simple, right? Just a list of who killed who. But when you factor in all the different heroes, abilities, and potential multi-kills... let's just say I gained a whole new appreciation for game UI designers.
The Realization: The Power of Intuitive Design
As I worked on this project, I kept thinking back to my younger self, the one who couldn't read but could still play games. It made me realize the true power of intuitive design. If we can guide illiterate kids through complex game scenarios, imagine what else we could do with good UI/UX in other areas!
I'm not done with this project yet. I'm aiming to finish up by early September and add it to my portfolio. But already, it's changed how I think about design. It's not just about making things look pretty or function smoothly. It's about creating experiences that anyone can understand and enjoy, regardless of their background or skills.
So here I am, still learning, still growing, and loving every minute of it. Who knows? Maybe one day I'll be designing games for real. But for now, I'm just enjoying the journey from player to designer, one UI element at a time.
Anyone else out there mixing their day job skills with their passions? I'd love to hear about it!