Our Services
Crafting the Future of Human Experiences
UX Services
At Cryptic Design, we offer a full spectrum of User Experience (UX) services designed to bring your vision to life. Our team of UX experts collaborates with you every step of the way to ensure your project is a success. We specialize in:
UX Research
Customer & Market Understanding
Heuristic Review
Prioritization & Roadmaps
Experience Benchmarking & Testing
Journey Maps
Service Blueprints
Contextual Inquiry
Affinity Diagramming
Personas
Consolidated Workflow Diagrams
Data Analysis
UX Design
Key Workflow Wireframes
Interaction Design
Visual Design
Prototyping
Concept Validation
Design Systems
Content Strategy
Accessibility
Experiential Advertising
UX Development
DevOps
Software Development
Front-end Development
Unity
Unreal
AR
VR
Mobile
Microsoft XBox
Sony Playstation
Nintendo Switch
Why Choose Cryptic Design?
At Cryptic Design, we craft more than just digital products—we create immersive, intuitive, and high-impact experiences. With a relentless focus on innovation, user-centricity, and technical excellence, we turn bold ideas into tangible results. Here's what makes us different:
User-Centered & Data-Driven
Every decision is backed by research, data, and usability insights to ensure maximum impact.
Cutting-Edge Technology
We leverage AI, Unreal Engine, Unity, and the latest UX frameworks to build future-ready solutions.
Seamless UX & Development
Our integrated UX & Dev approach ensures smooth transitions from concept to execution.
Future-Proof Design Systems
Our design principles focus on long-term scalability and seamless adaptability across platforms.
Innovative Problem-Solving
From games to SaaS platforms, we think beyond the ordinary to create solutions that stand out.
Agile, Adaptive, & Scalable
We use Agile methodologies to rapidly iterate and deliver solutions that evolve with your needs.
Let’s collaborate to create experiences that unlock new possibilities.
Case Studies
Humankind (2022)
Cryptic Design collaborated with Amplitude Studios, and Aspyr Media providing essential user experience (UX) design services for the console versions of Humankind. Our team focused on reverse-engineering the PC SKU design systems and interaction models to create an intuitive and engaging console gaming experience. Through iterative prototyping and user testing, we optimized user interfaces, refined control schemes, and streamlined gameplay mechanics to deliver a highly polished and user-friendly gaming experience. Our contributions ensured that Humankind's console versions retained the depth and complexity of the original PC version while catering to the unique constraints and capabilities of console platforms.
Console optimized wonders management interface for Humankind featuring streamlined navigation, readability, and strategy focused interaction systems.
Military movement and tactical action interface designed for Humankind console gameplay and controller based strategy interactions.
Outpost management UX system for Humankind console editions supporting large scale empire organization and strategic decision making.
City management interface for Humankind designed to improve usability, navigation clarity, and console strategy gameplay readability.
Military forces overview interface optimized for controller navigation and tactical gameplay management in Humankind.
Wireframe UX concept for city construction systems and vertical navigation flows within Humankind console gameplay.
Construction management interaction systems designed for strategic gameplay usability and controller accessibility in Humankind.
Population management dialog wireframes focused on readability, interaction flow, and strategic decision support for Humankind.
Turn start gameplay interface for Humankind console editions emphasizing strategic awareness and streamlined player feedback systems.
Opponent turn state interface designed to maintain gameplay clarity and pacing during large scale strategy sessions in Humankind.
Turn end interaction systems for Humankind featuring strategic notifications, gameplay transitions, and console optimized usability.
Battle results interface for Humankind designed to communicate tactical outcomes, rewards, and combat summaries with improved readability.
Combat contender results screen focused on tactical clarity and user friendly battle outcome visualization in Humankind.
Deployment phase UX systems for Humankind console gameplay supporting tactical positioning and strategic combat preparation.
Unit results interface for Humankind providing streamlined combat feedback and controller optimized tactical interaction systems.
Attack decision interaction flow designed for tactical gameplay clarity and responsive controller navigation in Humankind.
Unit turn gameplay interface supporting tactical decision making and strategic interaction design for Humankind console editions.
Turn based unit interaction systems optimized for strategic gameplay pacing and console UX usability in Humankind.
Controller friendly tactical unit interface for Humankind focused on strategic readability and streamlined gameplay interactions.
FAQs
-
Humankind is a historical strategy game, where you can create your own civilization by combining 60 different cultures from the Ancient to the Modern Age. You can face historical events, make moral decisions, and discover scientific breakthroughs. You can also master tactical battles on land, sea, and air. Your goal is to gain fame by leaving your mark on humankind2.
Some additional information that you might find interesting are:
Humankind was developed by Amplitude Studios and published by Sega.
Humankind was released for Microsoft Windows and Stadia in August 2021, and for macOS in November 2021.
Humankind has received generally favorable reviews from critics and players.
Humankind has various downloadable content (DLC) packs that add new cultures, wonders, and features to the game.
-
Cryptic Design undertook a collaboration with Aspyr Media to enhance the user experience design for the product "Humankind" for gaming consoles such as XBox, Playstation, and Nintendo. The primary objectives include absorbing existing user experience design patterns, conducting an audit of the current component library, and refining the visual design within the Humankind PC product.
I operated as Principal User Experience Designer and project lead from Cryptic Design.
Some of the unique challenges we faced were mostly around legacy design patterns; it offered up challenges at adapting and integrating new design improvements while aligning with existing legacy design patterns.
Our solution was in conducting a comprehensive audit of legacy design elements and carefully crafting a transition plan for seamless integration.
-
Main Responsibilities
Primary Focus: Absorbed existing user experience design patterns and audited the component library and visual design within Humankind.
Core Task: Generated comprehensive wireframe documentation supporting feature design needs to facilitate efficient development efforts.
Contribution to Design Strategy
Strategic Involvement: Played a pivotal role in shaping the overall design strategy for the project.
Approach: Aligned design decisions with user-centric principles, ensuring a seamless and intuitive user experience.
Impact: Contributed insights and recommendations that enhanced the design strategy's effectiveness, fostering a holistic approach to user-centered design.
Specific Achievements or Milestones
Achievement: Successfully absorbed and integrated existing design patterns, optimizing the user experience.
Milestone: Completion of detailed wireframe documentation, a critical step in the design process that laid the foundation for subsequent development phases.
Outcome: Facilitated a smoother transition from design to development, ensuring the efficient implementation of features and functionalities.
Work Stack
Platforms
Controllers
WIN Reality (2021, 2022)
During my time at WIN Reality, I worked on the WIN Reality project aimed at enhancing the overall user experience of their VR Baseball Training simulator. Tasked with creating a new visual theme, branding, and user flow, I kicked off into a comprehensive research phase to gain deep insights into the product, user behavior, company needs, and stakeholder perspectives.
Armed with valuable research findings, I transitioned into the phase of defining project requirements, which involved creating a new design library, documenting user flows, and establishing a clear visual direction for the simulator environment. Collaborating closely with artists, product managers, developers, and key stakeholders, we embarked on a journey to craft a completely revamped user experience.
Our vision included the implementation of a pod design concept, serving as an immersive space for users outside of training sessions. This pod area not only showcased user achievements but also delivered relevant news updates, facilitated onboarding processes, and served as a gateway to access various baseball and softball drills, including pitch recognition. Through meticulous planning, collaboration, and creative innovation, we successfully executed this project, significantly enhancing the overall user engagement and satisfaction with WIN Realty.
Login Screen - The streamlined login interface for accessing training sessions, featuring profile management and device registration options.
Workout Selection - Assignment Types Users navigate different assignment categories, choosing specialized drills to enhance their hitting performance.
Workout Selection - Advanced Filters Players filter training assignments by sport, level, and age to personalize their VR training experience.
Drill Selection Interface - A categorized view of available drills, allowing players to refine pitch recognition and reaction skills.
Match-Up Selection - Pitch Recognition Players select their opponent and customize pitch recognition training by adjusting the strike zone focus.
Match-Up Selection - Drill Modifiers Customization options for pitch recognition drills, including modifiers like Nitro Zone and Custom Timing.
Pitcher Selection - Filters and Sorting A dynamic pitcher selection menu where players can filter by league, velocity, arm slot, and pitch types for tailored training.
Profile Selection Screen - Users select their player profile before entering training, with clear organization for multiple accounts and progress tracking.
WIN Reality UI Components - A detailed breakdown of UI components within the pitcher selection system, ensuring usability and clarity.
Drill Card UI Components - A comparison of different UI styles for drill selection cards, balancing readability and engagement.
Screen Space Resolution Grid - A UI layout reference for ensuring optimal screen spacing and visual hierarchy across different resolutions in VR.
FAQs
-
Question: What is WIN Reality?
Answer: WIN Reality is a virtual reality training platform designed to help baseball and softball players improve their skills through immersive, real-world simulations. The platform provides advanced pitch recognition, reaction drills, and in-depth analytics to enhance player performance.
Question: What was the goal of the WIN Reality project?
Answer: The goal was to develop an intuitive and immersive training environment that allows athletes to face realistic pitching scenarios, refine their decision-making skills, and track progress through structured drills and assignments.
Question: What made WIN Reality unique?
Answer: WIN Reality set itself apart by combining real-world sports science, motion-captured pitchers, and VR training to offer a cutting-edge development tool for players at all levels—from youth leagues to professional athletes.
Question: How did the UX/UI contribute to the success of WIN Reality?
Answer: The UX/UI was designed to create a seamless training experience by providing clear navigation, responsive interactions, and intuitive feedback systems. The interface ensured that users could quickly access drills, track progress, and customize their training without unnecessary friction.
-
Question: What was the scope of the project?
Answer: The project involved designing and enhancing the user experience for Win Reality’s virtual reality baseball and softball training application, ensuring intuitive usability across all user skill levels while maintaining immersive and engaging experiences.
Question: What was your role in the project?
Answer: As Senior UX Designer, I led the end-to-end design process, from discovery and ideation to prototyping and final design implementation, while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across design, product, and engineering.
-
Question: What were your primary responsibilities in the project?
Answer:
Conducting user research to understand the needs of athletes, coaches, and casual users.
Designing intuitive and immersive VR user interfaces for the Meta Quest platform.
Leading workshops to align stakeholders on UX direction and priorities.
Prototyping and testing VR interactions to improve usability and engagement.
Ensuring cross-functional collaboration with developers to implement designs.
Delivering design solutions that aligned with Win Reality’s brand vision and goals.
Question: How did you contribute to the overall success of the project?
Answer: My contributions helped streamline user onboarding, enhance engagement with in-game training tools, and optimize the usability of VR interactions. This directly improved player confidence and skill development, aligning with the company’s mission to prepare athletes to “Be Ready for Real.”
Work Stack
Platforms
Controllers
WellSky (2019, 2020)
During my time at WellSky, I served as a Senior User Experience Designer within the engineering team. Working alongside a talented group of UX professionals, including designers, researchers, and managers, I played a crucial role in addressing the UX needs of WellSky's extensive product portfolio, which included approximately 70 products.
My main responsibility was to establish a formalized design library system aimed at standardizing the branding and visual identity of WellSky's products. This initiative was essential for ensuring a cohesive and professional look and feel across all SKUs. Additionally, I collaborated closely with product teams to address their interaction and visual design requirements, with a particular focus on enhancing interoperability among WellSky's diverse range of products.
Throughout my tenure, I meticulously created and maintained research and design documentation using platforms such as Confluence, Figma, and various websites. I led meetings to conduct research, define project requirements, and design solutions for multiple products within the WellSky ecosystem, contributing to the organization's overarching goal of delivering user-centered and interoperable software solutions.
Homepage Dashboard – The main landing page of the WellSky Blood system, providing quick access to patient management, non-patient workflows, and emergency actions.
Expanded Navigation Menu – A view of the system’s primary navigation menu, offering access to key modules such as Patients, Orders, Inventory, Product Testing, Administration, and Billing.
Search Functionality – Demonstrates the search bar functionality, allowing users to type or scan for specific patient or inventory details.
Product Testing Options – A submenu that enables users to choose specific product testing types, including Bacterial Platelet Testing, ABO Testing, Unit Testing, and Automated Testing.
Foundations Page - This page introduces the foundational principles of WellSky's Design Language System (DLS), including key elements like Material Design, Layout, Structure, and Accessibility.
Navigation Desktop - Overview of WellSky's desktop navigation guidelines, detailing how users interact with the platform’s navigation structure, including the Top Main Navigation and Left Side Navigation.
Digital Logo Guidelines - A breakdown of WellSky's digital logo usage guidelines, including proper branding standards and logo variations for digital platforms.
Navigation Architecture - A detailed diagram highlighting the architecture of WellSky's navigation system, labeling key elements such as breadcrumb navigation, page titles, and primary navigation areas.
Material Design Overview - Explanation of WellSky’s adoption of Google's Material Design principles, focusing on creating a unified visual language across different platforms.
Color and Usage Overview A guide to how color is implemented in the WellSky DLS, outlining its role in branding and user interaction, with sections on primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
Color and Usage Overview - A guide to how color is implemented in the WellSky DLS, outlining its role in branding and user interaction, with sections on primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
Button Styles - A showcase of various button styles within the WellSky DLS, including contained, disabled, and focused states across light and dark themes.
FAQs
-
Question: What is WellSky?
Answer: WellSky is a leading health and community care technology company that provides software solutions to improve patient outcomes and streamline healthcare operations. With a vast portfolio of approximately 70 products (at the time), WellSky serves healthcare providers, caregivers, and organizations in various sectors, including home health, hospice, rehabilitation, and social services.
Question: What was the focus of this project?
Answer: The project aimed to enhance the UX/UI across WellSky’s diverse product suite by developing a design library system, improving interoperability, and refining interaction design. The goal was to create a consistent, user-centered experience that streamlined workflows and improved usability across all WellSky platforms.
-
Question: What was the scope of the project?
Answer: The project involved improving the user experience across WellSky’s extensive portfolio of approximately 70 products. The primary focus was on standardizing branding and visual identity through a design library system, enhancing interoperability between products, and addressing interaction and visual design challenges.
Question: What was your role in the project?
Answer: As a Senior UX Designer within the engineering team, I was responsible for establishing and maintaining a formalized design library system, collaborating with product teams on UX/UI improvements, and ensuring a cohesive user experience across WellSky’s diverse range of products.
-
Question: What were your primary responsibilities in the project?
Answer:
Design Library & System Standardization – Created a formalized design library system to unify branding and visual identity across 70+ products.
Interoperability & Cross-Product UX – Focused on enhancing interoperability to ensure a seamless experience across WellSky’s product ecosystem.
Collaboration with Product Teams – Worked closely with product managers, designers, and engineers to improve UI consistency and interaction design.
UX Research & Documentation – Led research efforts, gathered user insights, and documented findings in Confluence, Figma, and other platforms.
Stakeholder Engagement – Facilitated UX meetings to define project requirements, review research, and implement design solutions.
Question: How did you contribute to the overall success of the project?
Answer: My work streamlined the UX design process across WellSky’s product suite, ensuring consistency and usability improvements. By standardizing the design language, I helped accelerate product development, reduce design inconsistencies, and enhance the overall user experience.
Toolkit
Platforms
Controllers
Rise to Power (2018)
During my time at Electronic Arts, I played a key role in defining the UI/UX design for Star Wars: Rise to Power, an unlaunched mobile strategy game developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm. My primary responsibility was to establish and define the game’s UI design, ensuring a seamless and immersive experience aligned with Star Wars’ strategic and cinematic identity.
I worked closely with Game Designers, UI Artists, Programmers, and QA to problem-solve, implement, and test designs. I developed high-quality concept interfaces, focusing on intuitive navigation, strategic decision-making mechanics, and scalable UI elements that supported the game’s core features, including fleet management, diplomacy, and base building.
Additionally, I contributed to the game’s information architecture, ensuring a structured, player-friendly experience. My work helped establish a cohesive design strategy that maintained brand consistency while optimizing usability for mobile players.
Mobile game login and authentication interface designed for Star Wars Rise to Power with streamlined onboarding and user friendly interaction systems.
Mobile game monetization interface for Star Wars Rise to Power featuring live service systems, special offers, and player engagement workflows.
Live service rewards and progression systems for Star Wars Rise to Power focused on player incentives and strategic gameplay engagement.
Mobile strategy game storefront systems supporting progression rewards, purchasable content, and live service gameplay experiences.
Live service rewards and monetization systems for Star Wars Rise to Power focused on player engagement, progression incentives, and mobile strategy UX.
Mobile game economy interface for Star Wars Rise to Power supporting premium currency systems, live service offers, and player progression workflows.
Research and progression systems for Star Wars Rise to Power designed to support strategic upgrades and scalable mobile gameplay interactions.
Ship combat upgrade systems for Star Wars Rise to Power focused on tactical progression, gameplay customization, and mobile strategy usability.
Faction leadership rewards and progression systems for Star Wars Rise to Power supporting player incentives and live service engagement mechanics.
Base management systems for Star Wars Rise to Power supporting strategic planning, construction workflows, and large scale mobile strategy gameplay.
Fleet production interface for Star Wars Rise to Power focused on ship construction, tactical planning, and mobile strategy gameplay systems.
Space strategy gameplay interface for Star Wars Rise to Power supporting tactical navigation, fleet awareness, and multiplayer interaction systems.
Confirmation dialog systems for Star Wars Rise to Power supporting player decisions and streamlined mobile gameplay interaction workflows.
Fleet control upgrade systems for Star Wars Rise to Power focused on ship progression, tactical customization, and strategic gameplay usability.
Star Wars themed video game interface showing resource counts, ship icons, buttons for ships, items, mail, guild, and options to upgrade, with a large blank screen in the center.
Star Wars themed digital artwork comparing the New Republic and Galactic Empire factions with characters, spacecraft, and Tie Fighters from Star Wars, including a prominent image of a character with a fiery background and a display of space ships, starfighters, and space battle scene.
Screenshot of a city-building and strategy game with buildings, trees, and game interface elements like resources, chat, and options.
Screenshot from a science fiction strategy game showing a base with buildings, trees, and rocky terrain, with game statistics and menus displayed on the screen.
Screenshot of a mobile game interface resembling a sci-fi strategy game with futuristic buildings, trees, and user interface elements showing resources, characters, and controls.
Screenshot of a spaceship building game interface with a green CR90 Corvette ship in the center, menu options at the top labeled Build, Repair, Destroy, Queue, a character on the left, and various resources and stats displayed on the right.
Screenshot of a spaceship game interface featuring an Imperial Star Destroyer with stats, resources, and options for upgrading or building, set against a dark digital-themed background.
Screenshot from a space-themed strategy game showing a spaceship named 'Imperial Star Destroyer' at level 7, with details about its combat set, cost, capacity, and resources needed for construction.
A screenshot of a sci-fi game interface showing various tabs, statistics, and messages. It features a galaxy background with a planet partially visible on the left. The top menu includes tabs labeled GUILD, COALITION with 2 notifications, RALLIES with 67 notifications, RESEARCH with 99+ notifications, STORE, and REQUESTS with 56 notifications. The left side displays a leader message: 'Today we take down the EMPIRE and reclaim our sector!' and a description about creating a guild. The center shows details of a faction called 'SMOOTHDADDYS' with 44.4 billion power, led by Chadrila, with a list of co-leaders and their power stats. The right side contains icons for game actions like leader holding a question mark, bar graphs, and other interface elements.
Screenshot of a video game interface showing a space-themed guild management screen. The namespace includes options like coalition, rallies, research, store, and helps. The guild leader is Chadrila with 44.4 billion power and 4.4 billion leadership points. The guild's name is SMOOTHDADDYS, and the title held by the leader is Fleet Admiral. The main section displays player names, with the leader and co-leaders listed along with their power and leadership points. A quote from the leader: 'Today we take down the EMPIRE and reclaim our sector!' is shown. There are icons for zooming and leaving the guild at the bottom.
In-game screen displaying a futuristic sci-fi interface for a space guild, showing a planet Earth with various stats, player list, rankings, and commands, with a dark space background and colorful neon elements.
Screenshot of a video game interface showing a galaxy map and guild information. The guild is named Smoothdaddys, led by Christopher Karos, with other members listed as co-leaders. The interface displays options like coalition, rallies, research, store, and helps, with various stats including galaxy power and leadership quote.
A digital user interface of the game Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, showing the guild details, member list, and options for managing the guild.
Screenshot of a computer game interface with various icons in rows and columns, some with checkmarks indicating selection, including character and object icons, and color-coded icons at the bottom.
Screenshots of the game interface from a sci-fi game featuring various menus, ship customization, and team management screens. Screens display guild roster, ship details, currency spending, and construction options.
FAQs
-
Question: What is Star Wars: Rise to Power?
Answer: Star Wars: Rise to Power was a mobile strategy game developed by Electronic Arts (EA) in collaboration with Lucasfilm. Players could align with either the Empire or the New Republic, engage in base building, fleet management, and strategic warfare, and form alliances to gain control over the galaxy. The game entered a closed pre-alpha in late 2017, but it was never officially released.
Question: What was the focus of this project?
Answer: The project aimed to establish a high-quality UI/UX design that supported the game’s strategic mechanics and player interactions. This included developing intuitive navigation systems, fleet management interfaces, diplomacy mechanics, and interactive elements that enhanced gameplay usability while maintaining Star Wars’ visual identity.
-
Question: What was the scope of the project?
Answer: The project covered the design and implementation of the game’s UI, ensuring that core strategy elements—such as fleet control, diplomacy, and base management—were visually and functionally accessible. It also involved prototyping, testing, and refining UI components to enhance player engagement.
Question: What was your role in the project?
Answer: As a Senior UX Designer, I was responsible for defining the UI/UX design for the game, creating high-fidelity concept interfaces, and ensuring usability, scalability, and brand consistency. I collaborated with Game Designers, UI Artists, Programmers, and QA to problem-solve, implement, and test interactive systems that aligned with the game’s strategic depth.
-
Question: What were your primary responsibilities in the project?
Answer:
Establishing a cohesive UI design framework for the game’s strategic mechanics.
Creating high-quality UI concepts for fleet management, base building, and diplomacy.
Developing an intuitive navigation system to enhance player decision-making.
Collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement and refine UI interactions.
Structuring the game’s information architecture for a seamless user experience.
Testing and iterating UI components to ensure optimal usability and responsiveness.
Question: How did you contribute to the overall success of the project?
Answer: My work helped shape a cohesive and functional UI experience that supported the game’s strategic depth and player engagement. By creating a polished, intuitive interface, I contributed to a strong visual and interactive foundation that maintained brand consistency and usability within the Star Wars universe.
Toolkit
Platforms
Controllers
How We Work
Why Choose Cryptic Design?
At Cryptic Design, we don’t just create products — we craft experiences that inspire and empower. Our multidisciplinary approach combines scientific rigor, artistic vision, and technological innovation to deliver solutions that:
Delight Users: Experiences designed to be intuitive and engaging.
Drive Innovation: Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Create Impact: Meaningful experiences that resonate deeply with users.