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JIANTING LIANG

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Escape

Board Game Card Design & Visual System

ROLE
Designer：
game card, rulebook,
video editing
Jianting, Joel, Jiawei, Katrina
TEAM
DURATION
Oct-Dec 2024
TOOL
Figma, Illustrator, Final Cut Pro

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Designing the visual system and storytelling flow for a strategic escape-themed board game.

Escape is a strategy board game set in a post-apocalyptic world, where players must collect resources, fight enemies, and work together to escape a collapsing city. As part of a 4th-year university team project, I was responsible for the game’s card layout system, rulebook design, and promotional video editing. My design approach focused on creating a clear, consistent visual hierarchy across various card types and player materials, while supporting the game’s intense, cooperative atmosphere.

PROJECT PROBLEM

The game had strong mechanics and narrative, but needed a visual system that could support readability, gameplay flow, and theme immersion.

Early playtests revealed that players found it difficult to distinguish card functions, abilities, and types during fast-paced turns. The initial prototype had inconsistent layouts and lacked visual rhythm. Players also struggled with flipping between rulebook pages to understand character abilities or game phases.

Our challenge was to create a unified visual system that:

  • Distinguishes different card types and factions

  • Presents character abilities and effects clearly

  • Reflects the gritty but animated tone of the game

  • Supports onboarding with an intuitive rulebook and visual references

USER

Strategy-minded players who enjoy teamwork, action, and quick tactical decisions.

Our target players are 18–35-year-olds who play board games regularly and enjoy games with both strategic depth and fast pacing. Many are familiar with cooperative or semi-cooperative games like Zombicide or Forbidden Desert, and value a mix of challenge, clarity, and aesthetic appeal.

Their needs include:

  • Clear iconography and visual cues

  • Quick understanding of card effects and abilities

  • Easy-to-navigate rulebooks and setup guides

  • Immersive visuals that match the game’s tone

DELIVERABLES

  • Character cards (layout)

  • Action cards (layout)

  • Event cards (layout)

  • Rulebook (layout)

  • Edited gameplay tutorial video for project showcase

A fully developed card system, rulebook, and game visuals that support player clarity, speed, and immersion.

REFLECTION

This was my first time building a complete visual system for a physical game, and it taught me how much good layout design affects usability. Every icon, margin, and heading helped reduce friction during play. I also gained experience thinking across multiple components from printed materials to motion graphic and making sure everything felt cohesive and on-brand.

If I had more time, I’d love to:

  • Playtest the layout further with new players

  • Expand the rulebook with a fold-out quick start guide

  • Create more modular templates for future card expansion

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