Steve Forde

I'm an indie gamedev from central Massachusetts with over 14 years experience in game UX and UI art.

What I do

From project proposal to live-ops improvements.

UX Design

Working with gameplay designers, producers, and clients to spec UI/UX needs for projects.

Designing menu flow and creating initial wireframes in Adobe XD. Designing for different device form factors and operating systems.

2D and UI Art

Concept sketches, and establishing UI style with Photoshop mockups. Creating production-ready assets, icons, and logos.

A preference for vector assets: Using vector shapes whenever possible in the course of UI production for easily resizable and modifiable elements.

Creating 2D animations in Spine.

UI Implementation

Setting up and maintaining complex UI layouts in Unity. Assisting with UI scripting and hook-up with C#. Creating animations for menu transitions, fanfare and celebration flows. Creating particle effects.

Years of experience with developing games in Java.

Making sure that user interfaces work with localized text for different languages.

Software

  • Unity
  • Photoshop
  • Figma
  • Adobe XD
  • Java / libGDX
  • Spine (Esoteric Software)
  • Android Studio, Visual Studio
  • Git, SVN, Perforce

And some...

  • Illustrator
  • Blender 3D
  • Frontend webdev: HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP

Work History

2021 - Present

<1 Year

Demiurge - Senior UI/UX Artist

Boston, MA (Remote)

Working as part of larger team on UX wireframing, UI mockups, and creating final UI assets for PC and mobile projects. Collaborating with and helping to provide UI team with feedback. Creating promotional materials for the studio. Assisting with interviewing and reviewing art/UI candidates.

Notable projects
  • Hearthstone - Blizzard

2021

<1 Year

Penn Game Studios - Senior UI/UX Designer

Greenfield, MA (Remote)

In May 2021, HitPoint Studios was acquired by Penn National Gaming to develop new real-money games.

2013 - 2021

8 Years

HitPoint Studios - UX Director and UI Artist

Greenfield, MA

Leading the visual and UX design across studio projects including AR and mobile games. Developing wireframes, storyboards, mood boards and creating UI specifications that describe the user experience to a project's stakeholders. Working closely with game designers and engineers. Creating in-game UI assets, implementing user interfaces in-engine. Adding animation and polish. Creating marketing materials for projects and the studio. Assisting with reviewing candidates for additional UI staff and onboarding new hires.

As UI Artist for 4 years, I was responsible for in-game UI assets, implementing user interfaces in-engine. Adding animation and polish. Drawing isometric game buildings and decorations. Creating hidden-object scenes.

Notable projects
  • Venture Valley - PC, Mobile - Singleton Foundation
  • Game of Games - Mobile - Ellen Digital Ventures
  • Gettysburg AR Demo - Mobile - Niantic
  • Color BlastAR - Mobile - HitPoint
  • Disney Magic Timer - Mobile - Disney/P&G
  • Star Wars Porg Invasion - HTML5 Mobile - LucasFilm/Disney
  • Starbucks Hopscotch Rewards - HTML5 Mobile
  • Adera - Mobile - HitPoint
  • Kody Kapow Village Defender - Mobile - Universal Kids
  • Dragons Adventure World Explorer - Mobile - DreamWorks
  • Fablewood - Facebook, Mobile - HitPoint
  • Seaside Getaway - Mobile - HitPoint
  • Seaside Hideaway - Facebook - HitPoint
  • Hell Marys - Mobile - HitPoint

2013 - Present

8 Years

Cairn4 Games - Self Employed

Paxton, MA

Developing my own games on the side in Java / libGDX. Learning new things as I go. Creating all game art assets and animations. Steamworks SDK integration and Steam Store presence. Maintaining community engagement on a Discord server. Experience integrating with Google Games Play Services. Google Play and Apple App Store submissions.

Notable projects
  • MewnBase - Windows/Mac/Linux
  • Pombie Jump - Mobile
  • Pombie Zong - Mobile

2017 - Present

4 Years

Ransacked Studios - Artist

Remote

Working as part of a team of 3 developers on some independent games. Responsible for 2D assets, FX, menus, integration in-Engine, and marketing and promotional materials.

Notable projects
  • Glitch's Trip - PC, Switch, Xbox
  • Zombie Scrapper - PC, Switch, Mobile

2008 - 2012

4 Years

ImagineEngine/F9E - Lead Artist

Framingham, MA

Designing and implementing, user interfaces and 2D art for PC, console, handheld and mobile games. Responsible for setting the visual style of our products through concept art for characters and environments, storyboarding and providing direction to the oursource teams. UI scripting and additional FX work and 3D modeling.

Notable projects
  • Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed - Nintendo 3DS
  • Wreck-It Ralph - Nintendo 3DS
  • AXEMAN Mobile - Mobile
  • Apples to Apples - Xbox 360, PS3
  • Monster High: Ghoul Spirit - Wii, DS
  • Haunted House - PC, Xbox 360, Wii - Atari
  • Defense Acquisition University training project - PC
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel - Wii, DS
  • Are you Smarter than a 5th Grade: Back to School - Wii, DS
  • Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader: Game Time - Xbox 360, Wii
  • Cesar Millan’s Dog Whisperer - DS, PC

2008 - 2014

6 Years

Freelance Web Developer

Worcester, MA

Designed and developed portfolio and websites for a variety of clients, mainly in the video production industry. Creating custom WordPress themes.

2006 - 2008

2 Years

UMass Dartmouth - Internet Systems Designer / Developer

North Dartmouth, MA

Working as web designer and developer for the University’s staff and faculty. Was responsible for redesigning the University’s website to provide a visual consistantency throughout its many departments and organizations. Helped lead the implementation of new web technologies such as streaming live video and audiocasts.

Also worked part-time an under-graduate student for 2 years in the same department.

2006 - 2007

1 Years

Third Screen Media - Freelance Artist

Boston, MA

Animated Flash promotional materials. Mockups and creative assets for mobile advertising campaigns.

2003 - 2007

4 Years

Dragonfly Game Design - Freelance Artist

Westborough, MA

Working with a small group in developing PC games. Responsible for art and graphics of the game interface as well as web design and printed media.


Education

2002 - 2006

BFA Visual Design - Electronic Imaging

University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth

Summa Cum Laude, Commonwealth Scholar - Honors Program

Focus on virtual reality, 3D modelling and animation, 2D animation, and graphic design.