My role in this project focused exclusively on motion and graphic design. The audio design, character modeling, and rendering were crafted by other talented professionals.
Working on Gears of War Esports was one of the most exciting and challenging projects of my career. As the sole designer for the Gears Esports team, I was responsible for crafting bold, player-centric visuals that captured the franchise's gritty, industrial aesthetic while elevating the competitive experience for players and viewers alike.
This project was a unique opportunity to merge my passion for gaming with my expertise in user interface and visual design. Whether it was player banners, LAN event visuals, or dynamic motion graphics, my goal was to create assets that seamlessly integrated into the game while amplifying the intensity and immersion of esports tournaments.
In-Game Assets: Personal and Immersive Design
I designed dynamic, customizable visuals like player banners and emblems for the Gears of War Pro Circuit, giving players a sense of identity and pride. These assets seamlessly integrated into the game’s UI, enhancing clarity in competitive play while staying true to the franchise’s bold, gritty aesthetic with textured elements, striking typography, and the iconic red-and-black palette.
Weapon Skins: Concepts to In-Game Textures
Designing weapon skins was a particularly exciting challenge. I developed concepts that balanced the gritty, industrial aesthetic of the Gears franchise with a fresh, visually captivating edge.
In-game Weapons Skins
Once the concepts were finalized, they were handed off to the weapons team, who translated them into detailed textures. These textures were then imported into the Unreal Engine, bringing my designs to life in-game. Seeing my concepts evolve into fully rendered weapons that players could use was a deeply rewarding experience. Below are in-engine captures of my designs, showcasing the fusion of creativity and technical precision.
Dynamic Motion Graphics and Event Branding
As part of my contributions to Gears of War, I also designed visually impactful motion graphics and static assets that resonated with the intensity of the Gears community. My work included:
▪ Dynamic Motion Graphics: Animations that amplified the drama and excitement of key events, tournaments, and in-game experiences, seamlessly blending with the Gears aesthetic.
▪ Event Branding and Promotional Assets: Engaging visuals for LAN tournaments, online campaigns, and social media, ensuring cohesive and eye-catching branding across all platforms.
▪ Community-Focused Design: Overlays, banners, and supporting materials that elevated the experience for esports athletes and fans alike.
Esports Emblems
For the Gears of War Esports Pro Circuit, I worked on emblem designs that were displayed as part of the player identity system. These emblems needed to stand out visually while fitting seamlessly into the existing UI framework.
Graphic Design for Emblems
I created custom artwork for the core emblem visuals, incorporating competitive motifs and bold designs that players could proudly display.
Collaboration with the UI Team
While the frame was provided as an existing asset, my focus was on designing the central graphic to create a cohesive and impactful look.
Gears of War + Halo: NOLA Joint Event
As part of a special collaboration, I contributed designs for the Gears + Halo NOLA Joint Event, creating visuals that celebrated the legacies of both franchises.
Working on these projects was an incredible experience that taught me so much about teamwork. I got to collaborate closely with the weapons and UI teams, and I had to make sure my designs worked within their technical systems while still looking and feeling like my own creative vision. It wasn’t always easy, but that’s what made it so rewarding.
For me, the players were always the most important part of the process. Everything I designed, whether it was a weapon skin or an esports emblem, was created with them in mind. I wanted players to feel like these assets weren’t just part of the game but something personal, something they could really connect with and be proud to use.
A big part of that connection came from listening to the community. I paid attention to what players were saying, what they loved, and what they wanted to see more of. That feedback guided me and pushed me to make designs that felt authentic to Gears of War. I obsessed over details like textures, colors, and overall tone to make sure everything stayed true to the gritty, bold style the franchise is known for.
At the end of the day, my goal was simple: to make the players feel like they were part of something bigger.
Thanks for reading! If you have any thoughts or would like to collaborate, I’d love to hear from you.
