Eye for Design
A design-learning game built around one question: which design answers the brief better, and why? I wrote the briefs, designed the artwork and wrote the annotated explanations behind each comparison.
- Role
- Concept, briefs, art direction, layout, typography, logos, learning design
- Imagery
- Some photos are AI-generated from my prompts. The cinnamon roll is a licensed photo I cut out and incorporated; the weights are not AI-generated. All type, layout, logos and copy are mine.
- Build
- AI-assisted development
- Status
- Playable prototype in active development.
Most design feedback stops at “it looks better.” I wanted a way to practice saying why, so I built a game around it. Read a brief, compare two designs, pick the stronger one, name the reason, then see annotated feedback.
Each challenge asks players to connect design decisions to a brief. Some comparisons have a clearer answer; others have strengths on both sides.
These are fictional teaching briefs, not work for real clients.
The challenges
Each challenge puts two designs against one brief. Some pairs include a deliberately weaker teaching version. Sunday Crumb and Solene explore directions with different strengths.
Sunday Crumb · Applied judgment
Brief. Promote a box of four cinnamon rolls for $16, Fri to Sun, 8 AM to 2 PM. Make the product, offer and bakery easy to notice.
The decision. I prefer the white close-up: the text leads and the bakery name stands on its own. The blue version has a real strength: the box shows the four-pack instantly. I chose white because the brief puts noticeability first, though the curved hours could scan faster.
Marbella Coffee Co. · Visual hierarchy
Brief. Introduce the seasonal Maple Pecan Latte. The drink should lead, with availability and the invitation easy to find.
The decision. Same cup, colors and words in both. The stronger version gives the drink the biggest emphasis. The weaker one spends it on “Available now” and shrinks the invitation.
RIFT · Spacing and grouping
Brief. Promote a Jan 5 to Feb 2 strength block: 12 coached sessions, three per week, small groups. Register by Jan 2.
The decision. The stronger version separates logo, dates, benefits and registration. The weaker one crowds the logo against the title and tightens the supporting lines. Compact can work, but here it costs useful separation.
Willow Creek Food Bank · Contrast
Brief. Ask people to bring pantry staples and fresh fruit on Sat, Nov 14, 10 AM to 2 PM, to Willow Creek Community Center.
The decision. Same image, words and layout. White lettering for the details reads against the tote. In the weaker version the green lettering sits too close in value to the fabric.
Solene Night Serum · Designing for the brief
Brief. Tease Solene’s upcoming Night Serum as a new step in an existing nightly routine. Build curiosity without fully revealing the product.
The decision. The surrounding products give the serum a place in an existing routine. The frosted-glass direction builds curiosity, but gives fewer visual cues about that routine.
The game
The game gives each comparison a brief, a decision and a conversation with Alex, the design intern.