How elements and objects are arranged in design is called composition. This presentation is usually intended to be shown in a visually pleasing way with the goal being to present information in a meaningful way (Bowers 1999). The first chance to see how well a designer has incorporated composition into a board-game is on the box itself. In this post there are two examples of good composition in board game design. First, the board game rampage, a 3D action game that has the players assume the roles of dinosaurs destroying a city. Looking at the cover of the box , it can be noticed how the layout of the imaging offers depth and creates three dimensional space on the 2D plane. The main focus of the cover is the dinosaurs, which is the role the audience will be playing in the game. The designer made it clear to show how important that figure should be in two ways. The point of view the audience is given of the focused subject is a low angle shot. This is a trope commonly used in examples of filmmaking and other media which can help portray power or importance to a character (NFI N.D). Secondly, acknowledging the layout of the rest of the scene, the visual lines created by the tops of the skyscrapers force the eyeline once again to the main subject. The designer took great consideration into the vision they wanted to achieve, they could have opted for a more basic iteration that could achieve a similar effect. However, they chose to add depth into the scene and found a way to portray a message of importance to the audience through the use of good composition. The second example is one discussed previously in the conceptual design post. In comparison to Rampage; An infamous Traffic opts to use composition in a way to provide a pleasing aesthetic over portraying a message to its audience. The rule of thirds is a rule used in photography and painting that claims focus points placed on third-lines or intersecting points within those thirds will achieve a more pleasing image (Amirshahi 2014). Where the focus point of An Infamous Traffic’s cover the title is placed upon the top third line and where the ship is placed, which was argued earlier about its importance, sits on an intersectional third point. Overall the simple placement and adherence to a rule provides a pleasant visual to the audience.
World in flames is an example of what can happen when composition is not taken into consideration. Space is not used effectively and every element feels forced into the centre as if the only way to attract the audience’s eyeline. In the revision proposed, more thought went into the placement of each object. Taking use of the rule of thirds the background would be split into the signature red at the top where all the text could sit. The other thirds would cover the artwork of the sky as seen in the rectangle at the back of the original design. Simple adjustments and reductions in size of the other elements, placing them onto intersections and making use of the third lines, would help achieve a slightly more pleasing look. Although the goal to convey information would be hard to achieve, thoughtful use of placement is all it would take to improve this design.
- Amirshahi, S. A., Hayn-Leichsenring, G. U., Denzler, J., and Redies, C. (2014). Evaluating the Rule of Thirds in Photographs and Paintings. Art & Perception 2, 1-2, 163-182, Available From: Brill https://doi.org/10.1163/22134913-00002024 [Accessed 02/10/2022]
- Baines, Phil., Haslam, Andrew. (2005) Type & Typography. United Kingdom: Laurence King
- Bowers, J. (1999) Introduction to two-dimensional design: Understanding form and function New York: Wiley
- GameCloset (2005) World In Flames Australian Design Group (Photograph) Board Game Geek Available Online https://boardgamegeek.com/image/102339/world-flames-deluxe-edition [Accessed 02/11/2022]
- Nashville FilmInstitute (N.D) Low Angle Shot: Everything You Need To Know Available online https://www.nfi.edu/low-angle-shot/# [Accessed 30/10/2022]