Q & A | Meet Megan | CBG Game Artist
Posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Education?
BFA in Graphic Design from Rochester Institute of Technology
Experience with games/gaming:
Not too much – I have played games here-and-there growing up and through adulthood.
Favorite games to play in your spare time?
Of course the office-favorite Mario Kart! I always get drawn into the latest mobile crazes (e.g.Trivia Crack, Draw Something, Words with Friends, etc.). Occasionally I get into random PlayStation games – I am currently casually playing Shadow of Mordor.
Do you have a favorite character?
Donkey Kong!
What inspires your ideas & creativity?
Keeping up with what other designers are doing is really important for me. Browsing sites like Dribbble or Behance is super valuable because you can see the latest happenings in the design world, and challenge yourself to be better. It’s also inspiring to play other games, and see how other designers are solving UI/UX problems!
Do you listen to music while you work?
I usually listen to a random mellow Pandora station, or podcasts. One of my favorite podcasts is “This American Life.”
What is your favorite thing on your desk?
Probably my cup of coffee.
What does your desktop look like?
I try to keep it pretty neat, but it can get messy pretty easily. I totally color code everything in life, including my files (crazy graphic designer problems). Currently my desktop background images are of hand-lettered quotes. One of them reads, “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.”
What do you think is in store for the future of mobile games?
I think integration with social media has become a necessity for mobile games, and that will absolutely continue. I think people get the most addicted to mobile games when they can share the experience with their friends — and a little bragging doesn’t hurt.
What type of style are you drawn to when it comes to game visuals?
Of course it depends on the game, but as keeping with my taste as a designer, I am usually drawn to a ‘flat’ style. I absolutely love illustrative graphics when it comes to games. I am a big believer in tiny details going a long way! An example of mobile game graphics I’m really into is the indie game “Jellies!” I love the simple graphics and limited color palette.
Where do you see the graphics in games going in the future?
I think game graphics are mirroring trends in graphic design — that means more icons, less ‘realistic’ looking graphics, and more limited color palettes.
Would you consider your style more innovative or traditional when it comes to games:
More innovative. I guess a traditional style has a time and place, but it is important to keep up with current trends and styles. I think that is part of what users respond to.