Storm8’s design games include a gameplay feature called DIY - it recreates the tactile experience of do-it-yourself projects, allowing players to transform junky finds into one-of-a-kind home decor.

I start with an idea for the object itself - what would make desirable decor? Next, I think of the starting point and the steps the players would need to undergo to achieve the final result, introducing opportunities for customization while keeping the players’ experience and efficient use of our 3D team’s resources in mind. Finally, I combine concise notes with simple sketches into a visual guide to help direct our implementors.

I enjoyed working on these DIY projects - they were a fun mix of creative experimentation, logic puzzling, fantastical plausability, and suspension of disbelief.

Pictured here are my guides for a potted plant centerpiece, and the resulting in-game screenshots.