During the summer of 2020, I had the opportunity to work for Sony Interactive Entertainment on
MLB The Show. As a User Interface Artist, I created baseball card concepts, icons,
player nameplates, and interface animations. My goal while creating each was to create a
cohesive user experience with fun and comprehensive visuals. During my time working on the game,
I learned a lot about utilizing motion graphics to make menus feel more succinct so players can
get back to the game faster.
User Interface Artist Intern (Contract)
Three Months
Adam Hamil — Production Assistant
Christina Liu - Lead Senior Interface Artist
The MLB The Show games feature unlockable baseball cards, unlocking these cards is intended to be special and exciting, so my goal was to make each of these cards unique from other pre-existing ones. I created numerous card concepts for the MLB The Show 2020 Finest series, showcasing players who are considered the best. Each card includes the player's name, position, team, and a diamond in the top right. The top left Finest concept was chosen for 2020.
Diamond and player photos provided.
Beyond the Finest Series, there are a variety of other packs such as the Draft Series, which I also had the opportunity to work on. These cards have the same requirements as the Finest series but their Draft pick number must also be included on the card. I wanted to ensure that these cards truly stood out and celebrated the significance of being a draft pick. To achieve this, I made the draft pick number the primary design aspect of the card, interweaving it with the player's photo.
Diamond and player photos provided.
My goal was to create an engaging main menu prototype. This involved designing a navigation system which could access multiple game modes, an extensive settings menu, and documenting the components I make within the design system for others' use. I transformed a Lo-Fi prototype into a polished interface, prioritizing speed. This was momentum was crucial to maintain a feeling of momentum as this prevents players from feeling overwhelmed by menus.
Because the landing page is the first thing players see before they start the game, I wanted to create a fun and colorful aesthetic to set the tone. As well, to make it easier to see where they are on the screen, elements enlarge to show what is being interacted with.
To amplify the sense of momentum, elements will move away from the player as they navigate through screens with lots of elements. This creates the perception of increased speed. This is especially noticeable on the game modes screen due to its grid layout.
Players also have hundreds of options that they can toggle and change to make the game more to their liking. Similar to the game modes screen, the buttons move the opposite direciton of the player to help players believe they are moving faster than they are. Due to the enormous amount of options, this helps to reduce player frustration.
Players can customize their profiles with nameplates and profile pictures. I created these options wiht mascots. I did little doodles on them to amplify the whimsical and fun feeling of the mascots.
Mascot photos provided.
Another option which I created are the wavy nameplates and profile pictures. These include the team colors and the logos. This is an option for fans who want something that shows off their favorite team's colors and logo.
Team logos provided.
Aside from the team-related nameplates, I also created a series of nameplates for players who prefer not to have a team logo on their profile. I wanted to cater to the wide variety of player preferences and provide them with a range of creative options to express themselves.
As well, I created a series of non-team related nameplates and profile pictures for fans who did not want any specific team on their profile.
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I also created pack art for that summer's Beach Ball pack. I decided to do a beach ball at the beach because I wanted to remind everyone of summer. Players buy these packs to unlock cards.
Pack display provided
