"Words With Friends" stands as a flagship title in the gaming market, renowned for its engaging gameplay and strong brand presence. To elevate the game beyond its original success, I was brought in to provide art direction and enhance the artistic style “Words With Friends 2”. My role was critical in expanding the game's creative content and establishing a robust outsourcing pipeline, which significantly increased our art production capabilities.
In addition to these improvements, I played a key role in extending the game's branding. Collaborating closely with the marketing and user acquisition (UA) teams, I helped with art directing, feedback and creative ideas that translated into high-quality visuals that were pivotal in growing the game's visibility and overall business. This cross-functional partnership ensured that our artistic enhancements were seamlessly integrated with strategic marketing efforts, driving both player engagement and brand loyalty.
Through these initiatives, the transforming "Words With Friends 2" into a more visually appealing and commercially successful game, enriching the player experience and reinforcing the game’s position in a competitive market.
Concept Art by: Say Oh
Concept Art by: Dasiy Chan
I helped art direct the following videos.
In this project, my primary responsibility was to lead and direct external teams located in India and China, ensuring they adhered to our high standards of art production. My role encompassed providing comprehensive art direction across various domains including 3D modeling, concept art, marketing materials, and iconography.
To elevate the quality of outputs, I implemented training programs and standardized processes that enhanced the skills of our artists and streamlined production workflows. Additionally, I personally stepped in to execute concept work during critical phases of production, significantly accelerating the completion timeline and maintaining momentum in the production schedule.
In my role on this project, I was pivotal in assisting the Art Director with the development of the style guide, which served as a foundational document to ensure visual coherence across all game assets. My responsibilities extended to providing art direction to both internal teams and external artists in India and China, ensuring that all contributions aligned seamlessly with our established aesthetic guidelines.
Additionally, I took on the task of creating a wide range of concept art, which included marketing materials, in-game assets, various icons, and the app icon. This diverse portfolio not only demonstrated my versatility as an artist but also my capability to adapt and innovate within the visual framework of the game.
As the Lead Concept Artist, I led the concept team in the game's extensive animal pipeline, I spearheaded the creation of a detailed style guide that ensured a consistent visual standard across all production stages. My responsibilities included training both in-house and external artists located in Oregon and India, focusing on the development of appealing animal designs characterized with complex textures and patterns.
I provided continuous art direction and feedback, aiding the artists in fully realizing their art pieces. Inspiring them to continuously evolve the quality level of these animals because they are the main revenue driver.
A significant highlight of this project was the development of a comprehensive library of animals for the game, which now boasts over 700 breeds and species. This achievement not only enriched the game's appeal but also established a robust foundation for future expansions and gameplay elements.
On the "Castleville" project, a captivating castle/medieval theme, I was entrusted with the comprehensive task of creating in-game concepts. My responsibilities spanned across designing characters, buildings, decorations, and icons, as well as guiding the art direction for various features of the game.
In this capacity, I collaborated closely with our partner studio in India to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of the game's artistic vision. I oversaw the entire art pipeline, which included 3D modeling, concept art, user interface design, and animation. This oversight ensured that all visual elements adhered to our high standards and cohesively supported the game's thematic and gameplay objectives.
In this project, I had the privilege of serving as the lead character designer, where my primary focus was on crafting the character art and related in-game assets. My role extended beyond characters, as I also contributed to the design of buildings, loading screens, and environments that complemented the thematic essence of the game.
Collaborating with a talented art team, I was able to fully engage my creative skills to bring each element to life with a unique flair. This project was not only a fun and engaging experience but also an opportunity to push the boundaries of my artistic capabilities. Working within such a dynamic team allowed us to synergized our creative ideas, resulting in a cohesive and visually appealing game environment.
The experience was immensely rewarding, enabling me to explore and expand my design skills in a multi-faceted gaming project. It was a true testament to the power of collaboration and creativity in the realm of game design.
