Project Statement

In my design work, I like to make it interesting and fun, but also readable and easy to follow. In my illustration work I tend to lean into more fantastical styles and aesthetics, suitable for all ages. I take inspiration from every aspect of life and the world around me. In design and layout work, I take a problem-solving approach to finding the most logical and clear way of presenting the information.

For my senior project, I wanted to develop and create a more professional looking prototype for a board game I designed called Fairy Ring Dress-Up. The goal was to design and mock up a whole box, create advertising materials, additional branding, and to make a functional prototype of the game itself. I designed and illustrated all the game’s artwork. For the game-play and concept, I ended up combining a couple of things that interested me when I was a kid: fairies and dress up games. So, I ended up designing a game that implemented a paper doll mechanic for the dressing up part of the game, with the goal of the game being to dress up your fairy. I wanted to have a fun, colorful, and cute aesthetic to the whole game so I went with a lot of bright colors. The game-play is simple: players roll the dice to move, collect currency in the form of ‘Fairy Gold,’ and purchase items from the shop to dress up their fairy for the party in the Fairy Ring. The game allows for a limited mode where players go for nine rounds before the game ends and players judge, and for an unlimited mode where players can circle the board as long as they want or until the currency and/or shop items run out. The limited mode going for nine rounds is inspired by folklore surrounding fairy rings that worked for the board game format. Players are also free to just ditch all the game’s rules and just play dress up with the paper dolls, if they want. I remember enjoying finding fun ways to repurpose lots of old games and toys as a kid, so I wanted to include flexibility in my game design since the game is intended for a younger demographic.