ABOUT

HEX was one of a series of early concepts commissioned by PlayJam for a compact, low-cost Android-based home games console.

The project was created during a period of rapid change in gaming. The iPad and the growth of mobile games were challenging assumptions about where and how people played, while the traditional console market was preparing for the launch of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

HEX was as much a branding project as it was a product design exercise. I wanted the hardware, interface and brand to feel like parts of the same identity. The visual direction paired a clean, minimalist console with a bold but restrained use of colour and a sophisticated yet accessible UI, creating something that would be immediately recognisable.

Product design sat slightly outside my usual area at the time, making this a challenging but rewarding project. The entire concept, including the hardware and early UI, was developed within a week. Looking back, I would approach parts of it differently with the experience I have now, but the proposal achieved exactly what it needed to, feeding into the development of the final hardware.

The work fed into PlayJam’s hardware development process and helped establish an ongoing relationship, with the company becoming a regular client.