Old Interface
Here is how the old interface looked like. We have significantly changed it, here you can compare it and see how cooler the new one look.
Our goal was to bring its design to the new level of graphic quality, to design a great looking game which will be memorable of it's design.
Style
But let's start from the very beginning though. So at first we had to decide which style to follow. We ended up with three main directions.
It was a tough decision for a client, they liked all three but after deep look they finally decide to go with the second one.
Symbols
All right, we have got the style, now it's turn of the symbols themselves. So what we had was a batch of symbols with different values which needed to be transformed into the icons.
OK, they are dinosaurs, this is clear, but as far the gradation, how to illustrate its value? So we have decided to make in the way of the greater value symbol is the tougher beast is on it.
However coolness of the creatures was not the only thing to grade the icons. We have decided to emphasize the difference also by colors. The tougher the beast is the warmer is the dominant color.
Interface
Most often when the task is to design the interface we are designing it from scratch, first creating wireframes, working on usability and finally skinning it.
This time it was different, the game's engine did not give us a lot of freedom in terms of elements placements but at the same time we could do whatever we wanted with the details.
Background
So now interface and icons are ready and it's the next step to put them on the right background. The challenge was to design one huge illustration which will look like natural environment for all these beasts.
There is even a reservoir for water animals, don't worry it's deep enough for Liopleurodon :)
When designing the background we also had in mind the future animations, so almost all the elements drawn in separate layers.
Last but not least goes a logo
As for the concept it was proposed to make it in a way so it will slightly resemble original one for Jurassic Park movie. We have totally designed 6 concepts, they are all different in terms of style, starting with one really aggressive one and ending with relatively simple textual logo. The first one was finally chosen.
It was a great project and experience, lots to think about and lots to actually design. The style consistency was another goal which we successfully achieved. We keep working with the client on other projects, what else can we say!