PROJECTS > REALM OF GAMING
The Intel Retail Edge Program (IREP) web site is a wealth of knowledge and content from many sources. The IREP team decided that consolidating some of the content into feature pages might help drive Retail Sales Professionals (RSPs) back to the site with seasonal updates and features.
Originally called Gamer’s Corner, this area of the site had sat untouched and unused for a long time. The name was changed to Realm of Gaming and Hack and Slash were added to bring in some humor and visual interest to the Hero area.
This feature area was the first installment of a 5-part Fall/Winter Campaign to increase membership and rekindle interest in IREP.
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YEAR
July 2020 - August 2020
SERVICES
IU Design
Art Direction
3D Illustration
Branding
MY ROLE
My role as the Lead Graphic Designer was to develop the new graphic look and coordinate my work with a 3D artist to create the branding collateral sets for each of the seasonal updates. In addition,
I was responsible for developing the online Web site interface for both mobile and desktop devices.
CHALLENGE
Gaming information and news has been uploaded to the IREP site extremely ad hoc over the past few years. As a result, a lot of useful information is either hard to find or getting lost among lists of many unrelated links and topics. The original ‘Gamer’s Corner’ that once served as a game information hub no longer exists. It was taken down after years of neglect.
With plans for a Gaming Expert Training Track to release shortly, the need became evident for a central hub to all gaming related news and information, calendars for events, additional trainings, Expert Track information and links to discussion groups and forums.
It also became clear that the page needed to engage RSPs and get their attention so they would return regularly as news and updates became available.
The screenshots above show just a small sample the many pages that came up in a search for ‘Gaming’ on the Intel site, but not all the information in that search is current, or valuable to an RSP seeking to improve their skills.
SOLUTION
Our primary goal for this area relaunch was to bring new vitality, energy and reasons for RSPs to return regularly. In our minds, there was no better way to do it than to bring in Hack and Slash—two of IREP’s most loved characters.
We also decided that rather than the same static, corporate masthead that has been used on so many of the past content pages, we would create 3D hero images. Each would feature Hack & Slash at their new ruins/headquarters in humorous poses and activities. It made perfect sense. They are gaming characters. They live in a gaming environment. There’s no one better suited for this new role.
Next, we created a name for this important gaming hub as big as our mascots. So, out went the old name ‘Gamer’s Corner’ and in came ‘Hack & Slash’s Realm of Gaming’. It seemed to hit all the marks to entice RSPs to visit this game-centric hub. We also discussed possibilities of adding 3D animations and training promotions as the site expands in the future.
Finally, we knew that Realm of Gaming would be updated quarterly, so we developed all 3D hero images and support graphics to line up with the seasons—summer, fall and winter, with a default screen that can be substituted at any time. The spring edition is planned for Spring 2021.
INITIAL LAUNCH - SUMMER EDITION
The new site launched in July with basic content and information about Gamer Days 2020—an annual event that Intel participates in with other sponsors.
The interface features a summer-themed logo and hero image at the top of the page, followed by a feature article, and a nav bar that can be expanded as needed to access trainings, news, events and IREP message boards with gaming related topics.
At the bottom, additional promos and ads can be added either individually, or as a carousel to keep RSPs informed of important promotions or features pertaining to gaming.
For the summer page launch, we created a set of 3D graphic elements to enhance the page with some summer fun and pops of color. Similar sets were created for the Fall and Winter editions as well.
SUMMER FUN WITH AN INTEL FLAIR
When we came up with the concept for the Hack & Slash 3D still Hero Image, we knew we wanted to have a kiddie pool, a cooler, and other 'beachy' things around. What we didn’t count on is how well they would be received.
Some of the people that saw the graphic wanted to know where they could get their own kiddie pool and coolers! So, we started looking for sources to provide these on their online store, and it challenged us to add similar products into future 3D stills.
ADDITIONAL REALM
OF GAMING ASSETS
We created a static background image that would fill the screen behind the content to maintain the gaming theme. We also created some decorative borders to be used as needed. These assets can be used on any Realm of Gaming page or collateral.
PROMOTING THE LAUNCH
The following e-blast and promos were created to promote the new Hack & Slash’s Realm of Gaming–Summer Edition.
PLANNED SEASONAL UPDATES — FALL EDITION COLLATERAL
Using the Summer Edition as our layout template, we created seasonal counterparts for each of the components for fall and winter. Both sets of the update collateral feature whimsical 3D illustrations of Hack & Slash and seasonal inset elements to add color and interest.
PLANNED SEASONAL UPDATES — WINTER EDITION COLLATERAL
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ADDITIONAL CREDITS
Megan Rojas, Let It Roar Creative - Project Manager
David Goebelbecker - Lead Graphic Designer
Tony Reser - 3D Animator/Sculptor
MoTech - Interface Build, Site Hosting