(Not exactly) Child's play: outstanding design in the world of games
Today, games are as diverse as their users, because thanks to increasing digitalisation, gaming offers more and more opportunities. These range from virtual reality experiences to timeless classics like LEGO. Communication in this industry is also adapting to these developments. For example, there are apps, posters and online platforms to promote the games. In the Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design, both games and their communication works are subject to the critical eye of the jury and only the most convincing projects are honoured with the coveted Red Dot.
Playing cards in a different way
The poster series “Rendezvous in space” of the playing card factory Altenburg was awarded a Red Dot: Best of the Best. The game focuses on the race around the moon, building and firing rockets, the communication via radio waves and the strategic planning of aviation manoeuvres. The posters are designed in the style of the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s and they playfully depict something technically abstract. Thus, the combined playing cards form the motif of one of three posters, which depict different forms of rockets. The first one to succeed in putting together two complete rockets and playing the corresponding card is the winner.
Gaming platform as a web game
The Red Dot winning website “Poki” is an online playground for free games. The design of Poki and Resoluut is created to help position the site as a leading platform for developers, gamers and advertisers. In order to optimally integrate these different groups on the site, the design of the homepage is based on the look of a web game – the quintessence of the playground. Thus, “Poki” creates a playful point of contact that reflects the company’s goal.
Keeping the overview
LEGO is the toy classic par excellence. But sometimes, you can lose track of all the colourful building blocks, which can be a nerve-wracking affair, especially for children. The “Brickfinder App” from the manufacturer of the same name helps to discover the parts you are looking. Thanks to Redmadrobot’s appealing design, it is easy to use for both adults and children and makes playing with LEGO even more interesting. The jury awarded this work a Red Dot.
Space mission on earth
The Augmented Reality game experience “EARTH7” of S7 Airlines showed that the earth has a lot to offer. It invited its players to the Mission Control Center in Moscow, a 72 sqm space ship-like room with a five-meter screen. There, the participants could steer a planet rover through a desert 5,000 kilometres away from Moscow, using gestures. The player was given the feeling of moving over an unknown planet as the pilot of the vehicle. His task was to collect three samples for life on earth. The experience was supported by the sound system, which created a space atmosphere, and a specially designed “command seat”. The Red Dot winning game was designed by Wieden+Kennedy and ISD Group.
The countdown has started
Not for long and the best communication designers meet in Berlin to receive their trophies and certificates at the award ceremony. The Red Dot Gala is one of the most important events of the international design scene and will take place on 1 November 2019 in the Konzerthaus Berlin. The award winners will afterwards celebrate their successes at the Designers’ Night at ewerk Berlin, where the winning works will be on show in the “Design on Stage” exhibition.