Total War: Elysium
Art direction for a digital collectible card game, redefining Total War for clarity, readability, and live-service gameplay.
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challenge
Translating the depth and identity of Total War into a card-based format introduced new challenges around readability, UI clarity, and player decision-making. The experience needed to support fast, repeatable interactions while clearly communicating game state, card value, and progression without overwhelming the player.
solution
The solution focused on simplifying the visual language and building clear systems that prioritised readability and player understanding. - Established strong visual hierarchy across cards, UI, and gameplay states - Reduced visual noise to support quick decision-making - Defined consistent layout systems for cards, boards, and interactions - Directed colour, iconography, and typography to reinforce clarity and feedback - Ensured scalability across new content, cards, and live updates
Defining and evolving the visual identity of Total War into a scalable digital collectible card game experience.
The early direction focused on redefining how Total War could exist within a digital card game format. Rather than carrying over visual complexity from traditional strategy titles, the approach prioritised clarity, usability, and flow.
I established clear visual systems across cards, UI, and gameplay interactions, ensuring that players could quickly understand game state and make decisions without friction. This required simplifying visual elements while maintaining enough identity to keep the experience engaging and recognisable.
A key part of the process was aligning visual design with player behaviour. Every element, from card layout to board presentation, was directed to support readability, feedback, and ease of use during repeated play sessions.
The result was a cleaner, more focused visual direction that supported both accessibility and depth, while providing a scalable framework for ongoing live content.
Impact
Translated Total War into a clear, accessible digital card game format
Improved readability and decision-making through strong visual hierarchy
Established scalable systems for cards, UI, and live content updates
Reduced visual noise while maintaining franchise identity
Supported a smoother player experience across repeated gameplay sessions
year
2019-2021
Team Size
10+ Artists
tools
Unity
category
Professional Work
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