UX/UI FOR GAMING

Get to know your instructor, the course flow, and what you’ll build by the end of this journey. You’ll leave this session ready to create your first UX/UI case study for games.

• Instructor introduction
• General housekeeping
• Course & assignment overview 

Get a clear picture of how UX/UI fits within the gaming ecosystem, from concept to release. You’ll unpack the “why” behind great game design and see how UX/UI transforms player experience.

• How the gaming industry works
• UX/UI design in game production
• Game development pipeline
• UX/UI in various game genres & models
• Benefits of UX/UI in gameplay

Players are at the heart of every design decision. Learn how to think like your audience — uncovering their motivations, emotions, and behaviour to build experiences they’ll love.

• Developers' vs. users' ‘mental model’
• Defining player personas
• Motivation, emotion, attention
• Game loop
• UX heuristics

Assignment #1: Problem Statement & Player Persona
Choose a game, identify a UX/UI challenge or new feature opportunity, and define your player persona. This will form the foundation of your course-long portfolio project.

See your game through the player’s eyes. You’ll map out the user journey, explore how your design fits into the competitive landscape, and learn to communicate experiences through flow.

• User journey mapping
• Development roadmap & user journey
• Demo #1: User Flows and feature stages related to the journey (MVP to Full) - Figma
• UX competitor analysis

Assignment #2: Feature User Flow
Map the user flow in Figma to visualize how players interact with the current game or its unique feature.

From paper sketches to digital mockups, learn how to turn UX principles into practical wireframes that prioritise clarity, hierarchy, and flow.

• Low-fidelity vs. high-fidelity
• Graphic design fundamentals
• UX heuristics & Gestalt principles
• Workshop #1: Low-fidelity wireframing (pen&paper)
• Demo #2: Creating wireframes in Figma

Assignment #3: Wireframes
Develop 1-2 low-fidelity wireframes illustrating the layout and structure of your redesign or new feature. Focus on clarity, hierarchy, and navigation rather than visual style.

Every great UI starts with a clear creative vision. You’ll explore how to translate a game’s world, tone, and personality into a cohesive visual language through moodboards and style guides.

• What a moodboard is
• Style guide
• Workshop #2: Create a moodboard to match a game and a suggested style

Now it’s time to bring your visuals to life. You’ll learn how to design intuitive UI components and assemble them into high-fidelity mockups that enhance gameplay and immersion.

• Interface components
• Screens, menus, HUDs
• Atomic design
• Multi-platform game UI design
• Demo #3: UI Mockup (working with UI components) in Figma

Assignment #4: UI Mockups
Create 2-3 high-fidelity UI Mockups in Figma that bring your visual design to life.

Learn how to design and evaluate gaming experiences that are accessible and inclusive for all players. Learn key accessibility principles - from colour and text design to controller usability - and explore real-world accessibility workflows.

• Street curb effect
• Accessibility Guidelines
• Colour blindness mode
• Text display
• Controllers
• Case Study #1: Behind-the-scenes look at accessibility workflows for Quantum league (Joaquin’s project)

Transform static screens into living experiences. Discover how to use interaction, motion, and feedback to create responsive, player-focused designs — then prototype them in Figma.

• Interaction design principles
• Feedback
• Form & function
• Demo #4: Creating a basic digital UX/UI prototype (Figma)

Assignment #5 (Extra Credit): Prototype
Build a basic interactive prototype using Figma. The prototype should allow users (and reviewers) to navigate your proposed experience and could be later used in the playtest.

Learn how to test your designs like the pros do. You’ll plan, conduct, and analyse playtests — turning feedback into actionable design improvements.

• Usability criteria
• Matching objectives to tasks
• Developing a playtest plan
• Usage & engagement metrics

Assignment #6 (Extra Credit): Playtesting & Findings
Plan and run a playtest to validate your UX/UI improvements. Summarise key insights and lessons learned.

Master the art of first impressions. Learn how to design onboarding experiences that teach, guide, and captivate — without breaking immersion.

• First-time user experience framework
• Walkthrough vs. hands-on approach
• Discovery/learning/immersion model
• How to shape tutorials

Explore how UX designers and game designers collaborate to craft smooth onboarding experiences that boost retention.

• Case Study #2: Onboarding for Steel Hunters
• Validate and iterate using data
• UX Designers and Game Designers working together

What’s it really like in the field? Discover how UX/UI designers collaborate across teams, handle creative challenges, and iterate towards excellence.

• Iterative cycle
• Working with cross-functional teams
• Key challenges faced by UX/UI designers
• Presenting UX/UI work to stakeholders

GOAL: Learn how to craft a design portfolio from the perspective of those hiring Turn your work into a professional showcase. Learn how to present your design story through a portfolio that stands out in the gaming industry.

• Creating a job-worthy portfolio
• Roadmap to advance your skills
• Interview tips

Assignment #7: Complete UX/UI Portfolio Case Study
Compile your research, wireframes, mockups, and (optional) prototypes and playtest results into a cohesive case study. Highlight your design process and professional takeaways to showcase your growth as a UX/UI designer.