Wasteland 3
Where: Hammer Creative
Role: Art Director
A winter nuclear wonderland.
Wasteland 3 is a post-apocalyptic role-playing game developed by inXile Entertainment and published by Deep Silver. It plunges players into the icy, unforgiving world of Colorado, where they must navigate treacherous landscapes, form uneasy alliances, and make gut-wrenching decisions—all while battling mutant creatures and homicidal factions.
As the Art Director for the game's launch campaign, my primary objective was to craft a visually arresting and immersive design language that would not only capture the attention of gamers but also draw them into the chilling, chaotic world of Wasteland 3. My responsibilities encompassed the overall design direction and visual language development, with a particular focus on the main key art and a series of promotional trailers.
The Key Art
The main key art serves as the cornerstone of the visual identity for Wasteland 3. Designed to be used on promotional materials and the game cover, it had to be both eye-catching and reflective of the game's gritty atmosphere as well hint to the deep narrative of the game.
During the development process, I worked closely with Atom Hawk to explore various concepts and compositions that would effectively communicate the game's themes of survival, resilience, and the stark beauty of a frozen wasteland. After extensive iterations and refinements, we settled on a composition that showcased a group of survivors facing the viewer, with the desolate, snow-covered landscape in the background. The use of dynamic lighting and atmospheric effects added depth and drama to the scene, drawing the viewer into the harsh world of Wasteland 3.
The final key art was utilized in a variety of promotional materials, including posters, digital banners, and the game's packaging. This consistent visual language effectively conveyed the game's unique identity and generated a strong, lasting impression on potential players.
The Trailers
The launch campaign included a series of trailers that further expanded on the visual language established by the key art. Each trailer served a unique purpose, such as introducing the motley cast of characters, unveiling gameplay features, or teasing the intricate storyline.
As the Art Director, my role was to ensure that the design style carried over seamlessly into the trailers, through motion, typography and overall tonality. The final trailers featured a mix of cinematic cutscenes, stylized graphics and in-game footage, offering tantalizing glimpses into the game's engrossing narrative, brutal combat, and delightfully twisted world.
