Art and Graphic Design
When to hire artists, what art costs, and how to make your game readable and beautiful.
When do you need a graphic designer?
The stages of a board game project where a graphic designer matters, and the long stretch where you genuinely do not need one.
Graphic designer vs. illustrator
The difference between graphic designers and illustrators in board games, and why most published games need both.
Finding a board game artist
Where to find illustrators and graphic designers for your board game, and how to approach and vet them.
How much board game art costs
Typical price ranges for board game illustration and graphic design, and how to budget an art spend that fits your project.
Writing an art brief
How to write a clear art brief that gets you the illustration you imagined, with fewer revisions and less frustration.
Art contracts and ownership
What a board game art contract should cover, including rights, work for hire, payment terms, and revisions.
Card layout and information hierarchy
How to lay out board game cards so players find the right information instantly, using hierarchy, consistency, and restraint.
Accessibility and color blindness
How to design board game components that work for color blind players and everyone else, using redundant coding and testing tools.
Preparing files for print
How to set up print-ready board game files, covering bleed, safe zones, CMYK color, resolution, and manufacturer templates.