Design Behind The Mask

is a show where graphic design and pop culture cross paths and high five.

Join me as we discuss the complexities of the Lexcorp logo, examine the color palettes of superhero costumes, break down typographic choices in Nintendo game menus, and much more!

FATE OF THE SPECTRE TRADING CARD GAME

Designing Systems
for play

Fate of the Spectre is a physical and digital trade card concept. It required a design system to govern the multiple cards in the game on both physical tables and mobile interfaces.

I built a robust typographic and color-based system to classify certain types of cards and communicate their advantages and disadvantages.

Around The Web

SIR&D Lore

Spatial Navigation and Interdimensional Kinetic Technologies

Spatial Navigation and Interdimensional Kinetic Technologies (SNIKT) is a pioneering research and development company operating within the advanced technology and dimensional exploration sector. Founded by visionary scientists and engineers, SNIKT specializes in harnessing the power of spatial navigation and interdimensional kinetics to advance the scientific understanding of our physical world and the technological capabilities of the human race.

Services and Products:
– Dimensional Mapping and Navigation Systems
– Interdimensional Energy Converters and Harnesses
– Multiverse Exploration and Discovery Programs
– Spatial Anomaly Detection and Analysis Tools
– Consultation and Training Services for Dimensional Travel

SUPER. BLACK.

Representation
Matters.

Super. Black. celebrates pop culture icons of color. Representation matters, and Super. Black. is the premiere platform for positive Black Superhero representation in pop culture.

Super. Black. is a passion project 10 years in the making. One of those “I will do this forever” types of projects. I hope to entertain and educate people on superheroes they may not know about and highlight characters fans can identify with.

SIR&D Lore

Alpha Male (Malcom Witman)

Malcolm is an internet sensation and self-made superhero. Turning to the crowdfunding web app Paysayer, Malcolm has turned his altruism into a business by rallying the public behind his cause. To date, Malcolm has pulled in 300k dollars, which he uses to help victims he saved and fund repairs to his suit.

Through a poll on his Paysayer Subscriber page, he asked the community what his hero name should be. They chose Alpha Male in a landslide victory. He is currently running another poll in hopes of a change.

Malcolm’s Control manifests in the form of hyper-dense muscle fibers and bone structure. It allows him to leap long distances and bounce off walls without getting hurt. He is as close to an evolved athlete as you can get. His metabolism and cell replication are also revved up, leading to high caloric burn and a high healing factor.

SECRET IDENTITY COMICS

Comic Book
Cover Challenge

Under the Secret Identity brand, I executed several comic book covers based on random action words. After the word was chosen, a brief was developed, general lore written, and a cover for a first issue was designed.

Around The Web

SIR&D Lore

Arcus/Kenly

Arcus/Kenly is a global mass media brand started by Darien Kenly in 1967. Their flagship publication “A/K” is distributed around the world in 16 languages. “Chronicling the Wonders of our Time”, A/K specializes in documenting the people blessed (and cursed) with phenomenal Control abilities.

DADSTINY

Parents.
Guardians.

Dadsinty is a community of parents who love playing Destiny 2. The hardest part of gaming as a parent is finding the time to play and people who understand that you may have to jump off or disappear for minutes (or days) at a time. Dadstiny is dedicated to supporting gamer parents by providing a healthy, engaging community that won’t bat an eye when the kids start crying and you need to step away.

We also did a bit of charity work!

SIR&D Lore

H.E.M.

Rebecca DeWitt is an accomplished tailor and metal worker. She specialized in Control private sector uniforms for 10 years before venturing out on her own. Without a supply of fabrics and materials to draw from out in the world, Rebecca began her online trading network for materials and knowledge.

Today, when she isn’t traveling the world, crafting specialized outfits for powered people, she runs the knowledge center of her online venture, offering tutorials and scholarship grants to those looking to follow in her footsteps.

Paysayer

Paysayer is an app that hopes to connect burgeoning ventures with capital-ready investors known as “Paysayers”. Secret Identity was tasked with not only branding the company but also coming up with a new brand name. Originally titled “Beggr”, Paysayer needed a more positive name they could brand.

Today, Paysayer is home to over 25 thousand ventures for Paysayer’s to invest in, including viral influencer and Control vigilante, Alpha Male.

The typographic simplicity of Control

The typographic simplicity of Control

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjmZejLUSQE The typographic simplicity of Control: Design Behind The Mask Can we touch on the typographic simplicity of the fantastic game Control? The video game developed by Remedy Entertainment centers around a shadowy government...

Xbox, Please check your line widths

Xbox, Please check your line widths

A friend of mine asked me to review the title type of his upcoming book. I pointed out some crazy kerning issues and gave a few pointers on how to layout the title. After a moment, he responded with "Now I will never not see those space issues." To which I said,...

Miami Heat branding embraces the 80’s

Miami Heat branding embraces the 80’s

The new Miami Heat branding slapped me in the face with awesome. "Vice" is a bold new direction for the NBA franchise and I for one love it. The "Vice" branding is ripped right out of the 80's. These clean uniforms were designed in house by Brett Maurer. I tip my hat...

Creating A Battle Royale Video Game

Creating A Battle Royale Video Game

Battle Royale games are the new zombie games. For a time, every third game had you facing off against a ravenous horde of braindead bullet fodder. Today, however, battle royale games reign supreme. In these games, in case you are not away, you drop into an arena and...