A game’s title is essential, but the accompanying image is even more critical. It must capture the essence of the game in a single illustration. This cover art often defines the success or failure of a project, making it one of the most important elements of the overall gaming experience. For our game in development,
Skool Days, we partnered with
Unicacabra Studio, a creative art studio based in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, known for designing illustrations with personality while maintaining a classic, old-school aesthetic.
For this project, we wanted a cover that exudes character and helps players empathize with the characters in the game, who are embarking on new challenges and adventures.
When we started designing the Skool Days cover, one key question guided us: What do we want to convey? Two fundamental concepts came into play here: Intentionality and Visual Appeal.
Unicacabra Studio brought our vision to life, ensuring a smooth, collaborative process. By maintaining a constant flow of communication, we avoided misunderstandings that could have caused delays or compromised the final artwork.
From concept to final artwork
When the studio received our initial brief, they explored multiple sketches to find the best way to express our ideas. At this stage, their questions helped us refine the direction and avoid confusion.
For Skool Days, we had a clear vision from the start, so the iterations primarily focused on the composition and how the artwork would adapt to different dimensions and formats. The creative process followed these key phases:
Initial Sketch: The studio began by drafting an illustration that captured the personality of the game.
Perspective and Composition: Once the sketch was approved, they focused on technical elements, such as perspective and the arrangement of key visual components. For example, the girl's face was placed at the intersection of the top and right thirds of the image, a focal point that naturally draws the viewer’s attention.
Color Blocking: A color-blocking phase helped establish a visual flow. The viewer's eye is guided from the girl’s face to the boy and finally to the school in the background.
Detailing and Lighting: The final stages involved refining details, adjusting lighting, and adding atmosphere to create depth and coherence.
Special attention was given to the girl's face, which serves as the central focus of the image. Her gaze underwent the most adjustments to ensure it was visually appealing and conveyed the right emotion.
With the project completed, the studio provided us with organized files, making future edits straightforward. The result is a spectacular piece of cover art that perfectly aligns with the essence of Skool Days and works seamlessly across various formats.
