minecraft ui redesign
2016 (design challenge project)
UI Design + 3D modeling
Project Objective: To design a more visual, but simple, UI for a character creation screen in Minecraft. A screen where players can make edits to character skins live within the window
My mission:
• 3D models for a few new example characters
• New Minecraft texture maps for new characters
• Redesign the character creation screen UI while staying true to the tradition of Minecraft's style
Squad: 1 designer (me)
Timeframe: 5 days
Tools: Photoshop + 3DS Max + Minecraft Skin Viewer
CHARACTER CREATION UI REDESIGN
Design a new, more visual, and customization-friendly character screen
Challenge:
Maintaining a balance between the existing (and beloved) Minecraft simplicity while also considering the user desire for more customization
Solution:
Through extensive research and from experience playing this game in the past, I knew how customization was important. So important that players have numerous mods and external sources for customizing their characters. It was a cumbersome process of using multiple external resources. Forcing players to LEAVE the game to do many of the things the game would, ideally, provide.
My answer to this was a visually similar look to the existing customization screen but one that offered more options in a more visual and intuitive way.
Challenge:
Maintaining a balance between the existing (and beloved) Minecraft simplicity while also considering the user desire for more customization
Solution:
Through extensive research and from experience playing this game in the past, I knew how customization was important. So important that players have numerous mods and external sources for customizing their characters. It was a cumbersome process of using multiple external resources. Forcing players to LEAVE the game to do many of the things the game would, ideally, provide.
My answer to this was a visually similar look to the existing customization screen but one that offered more options in a more visual and intuitive way.
My New Version of the Skin Customization Screen
Original Minecraft Skin Customization Screen
Challenge:
Players can't see the changes they make to their character in real time or see what skins they have to choose from.
Solution:
In my custom UI, the character model is displayed on the trademark Minecraft grass block. There is a menu with the player's current skins and a button for loading additional skins. Players can toggle skin features on and off in real time.
My custom Ruth Bader Ginsburg character can have her crown toggled on and off
Challenge:
Players can't make custom changes to their character skins in-game. They have to use 3rd party software for that.
Solutions:
In my redesign, there are customization options for the skins themselves. I accomplished this by including color and value adjustments for each component of the skin.
By selecting "Hat" and changing the color, the player can make RBG's crown pink now instead
Bonus Challenge:
"I just need a cool display platform. I know, I'll make the Minecraft grass block. How hard can that be?"
Solutions:
I wanted a platform for the character to be showcased on, implying that the character can be rotated for better viewing. I built and rendered a simple block and applied the iconic grass texture. Getting my grass texture to line up perfectly on all edges was an unexpected (bonus!) challenge.
character skins
Making fun new characters I hadn't seen anywhere else
Challenge:
Use characters and skins that I've created myself for the UI and player customization workflow
Solution: Since the election was in full swing, I thought it would be fun to go with more topical characters. So I made skins for a block Bernie, Hillary, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I used a mix of the more old school pixel Minecraft look (Bernie) and the newer more gradient Xbox Minecraft look (Hillary)
I used the existing Steve skin for the first screen, showing what a brand new player (or Steve fan) would see upon accessing the character customization screen. I also created multiple skins for the RBG character that included “hats” of varied colors. I used them to show the process of a player activating and editing the color of "Hats" or any other skin feature.
3d hillary and bernie
Let's see these fun new characters in all their 3D glory
Challenge:
For a fun and to test my skills, I chose to add the challenge of modeling and rendering little Minecraft Hillary and Bernie
Solution:
Bonus Challenge:
Modeling Bernie's crazy hair in pixel form
Solution:
Lots of Red Bull