GDC Event Identity Reimagine

Game Developers Conference is the game industry’s premier professional event.

Role

Brand Designer

Industry

Tech

Duration

2 Weeks

Project Brief:

Game Developers Conference is the game industry’s premier professional event. The event includes an expo, networking events, and awards shows like the Game Developers' Choice Awards and Independent Games Festival, and a variety of tutorials, lectures, and roundtables by industry professionals on game-related topics covering programming, design, audio, production, business and management, and visual arts.

Problem:

Reinventing an event identity to connect a diverse community of players across all age groups. With the global gaming demographic shifting toward a more balanced male-to-female ratio (55% in 2021) and casual games capturing the majority of the market share with nearly two billion players worldwide, traditional branding no longer suffices. This project establishes a fresh visual system designed to welcome and engage a broader spectrum of the modern gaming audience.

Context:

Target Users: High school and college students, young adults, and business freelancers who game from casually to competitively.
User Needs: A new event needs to be innovative, immersive, and affordable that presents a new gaming outlook for the industry.
Role: Brand Designer — responsible for research, ideation, concept mapping, and branding & identity.

Process:

Competitive Analysis: Audited related gaming events such as E3, TwitchCon, San Diego Comic Con, Tokyo Game Show, and The Game Awards. Events have ticket costs that range $30-$250+ (VIP Packages available).
Concept Mapping: Utilized mind mapping to create the name of the event.
Layout and Logo Sketching: Sketched different layout options for the event poster and logo variations for the event.
Brand Identity: Created a full brand guideline and lookbook that consists of a brand story, core values, logo guidelines, color & typography, and brand tone.

Proposal:

EXSURGENCE (EXS) brings the game development community together to exchange ideas, solve problems, and shape the future of the industry across five days of education, inspiration, and networking. Attendees include programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals, and business

Summary:

This event identity re-design is to implement new immersive and innovative ways to propel the game industry to the future. Design solutions were to solve the targeted audience and appeal to the users. These solutions included minimalistic and geometric designs. Additional principles such as bold and authorative typography, allows for a clean and easy legibility. Final deliverables includes 11x17 poster, 4.75x6.5 program book, 4x6 postcard, 65 inch digital signage, interactive digital ads, UI registration form, and event ephemera.

Program Booklet

Full Pitch Deck