Polycade Skin Design
Polycade, a modern reinterpretation of the classic arcade experience, combines gaming nostalgia with cutting-edge technology. For their new Sente Arcade Console, Polycade wanted a visually striking and cohesive skin design that embodied creativity, engagement, and a sense of nostalgia. The skin design needed to resonate with Polycade’s audience by highlighting the transformative experience of owning the console—turning boredom into unforgettable entertainment.
The Brief
Polycade approached me to design a skin for their Sente Arcade Console using my existing artwork, “Bored,” as the foundation. The goal was to create a seamless, immersive design that would:
• Capture the nostalgic yet modern aesthetic Polycade is known for.
• Ensure that no design elements were cut off awkwardly on any panel of the console.
• Emphasize visual harmony across the console’s multiple surfaces while enhancing the core themes of “Bored.”
The project required adjustments to gradients, textures, and layout to make the design fully integrated with the console’s structure.
Conceptual Vision
The chosen artwork, “Bored,” inspired by the phrase, “I remember being bored,” perfectly aligned with Polycade’s mission of eradicating boredom through immersive gaming. The art was adapted to evoke a surreal and dreamlike experience, with bold colors and intricate stippling techniques to create depth.
Technical Adjustments
1. Sides:
I restructured the side panels, isolating the ornamental elements, such as leaves, to ensure they stayed intact and didn’t bleed awkwardly into adjacent panels. Gradients were matched across panels for a cohesive look.
2. Front Door:
A blue marble texture was added to the platform for better contrast, allowing the figure in the chair to stand out more distinctly.
3. Top, Monitor Face, and Button Panel:
I replaced the stars with seamless rock elements, creating continuity across the top fold and enhancing the dreamlike quality. Clouds and stars were repositioned for better visibility and balance.
4. Screen and Marquee:
The screen art, titled “Paradise,” complemented the core design by adding an additional layer of nostalgia. Together, “Paradise” and “Bored” evoke a sense of longing for simpler times while celebrating the escapism that gaming provides.
The Result
The final design achieved a seamless and immersive skin for the Sente Arcade Console. Each panel flowed harmoniously into the next, ensuring a cohesive visual experience from every angle. The bold colors, intricate stippling textures, and surreal composition captured Polycade’s vision of blending nostalgia with modern design.
The project successfully transformed the console into a functional piece of art, elevating the overall gaming experience and visually embodying Polycade’s brand ethos: turning boredom into joy.
