Leakage
Art Direction & Game Design
Introduction & Vision
A Curse Doesn't
Have to be One
Leakage is a platform adventure game with a purpose beyond gameplay, telling an empowering story of living with depression through Leah, a character born into a vibrantly coloured world, yet possessing a sombre, uncooperative power.
It offers a new perspective on depression. Presenting it not as a curse, but as a complex force that, when acknowledged, can become a source of resilience.
Problem Statement
Objectives
CHALLENGES
Create a game that sensitively portrays depression without reinforcing stereotypes
Reduce the stigma caused by negative media portrayals, causing hesitancy in seeking help and contributes to youth suicide rates
Show how depression feels: tiring, isolating, and often misunderstood
SOLUTION
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Empower those with depression, showing life's worth even through challenges
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Design an immersive narrative and gameplay to visually express the complex journey of navigating mental illness
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Reduce stigma by allowing players to empathise and connect through the story
Design Process
Crafting a Journey of Emphaty
Find out how Leakage comes to life from the research, rationale, and mechanics
click to reveal
Research
Here are key insights from similar games and mental health case studies that inspired and shaped Leakage's core mechanics and concept.
Game Logic
Based on these insights, the following outlines the rationale behind the game design:
Research
Key insights from similar games and mental health case studies that inspired and shaped Leakage's core mechanics and concept.
Final Outcome
The visual design leans on watercolour textures and flowing gradients to reflect the theme of "leaking" colours. A distinctive font was chosen for headers to reinforce the game's unique aesthetic, balanced by a clear and legible secondary font to ensure in-game text remains easily readable.
Brand Collaterals
PRIMARY
CINZEL DECORATIVE
TITLES
SUB-TITLE
SECONDARY
Baskerville Regular
Body
LOGO
Inspired from the concept of bleeding water. The logo is simple but retains the character of "Leakage"
Inspired from the primary font, with a long tail-like brush to symbolise Leah's iconic hair with a leaking end.
Game Visuals & Interface
The interface blends seamlessly with the game's watercolour aesthetic and fantasy setting, maintaining an intuitive design while steering away from traditional RPG styles.
Character Design: Leah, the Runaway Princess, wields powers flowing from her crown to her hair, transforming into a tail-like form when hooded.
Game Interface: Power metre, life indicator, and interaction options for in-game scenarios.
World Map: A whimsical design featuring a watercolour map paired with clear UI design for important indicators.
Save Point & Journal: Players unlock new logs by reaching locations or interacting while saving the game. The raw handwriting style reveals insights into the character.
Recognition and Growth
Leakage was awarded a wooden pencil by D&AD, and this experience laid the foundation for my empathy-driven design, and influenced my work in UI/UX and visual storytelling.
