How UI and UX Design Impacts Narrative with Kat Craig

We're back with Season Three!

In this season opener, we dive deep into the relationship between UI/UX design and storytelling with Kat Craig, a talented UI/UX designer who has contributed to some major titles in the gaming world. Kat walks us through her career journey—from graphic design to breaking into the gaming industry—and shares how the user interface and user experience impact player immersion, engagement, and emotional connection to the game’s narrative.

We discuss the importance of creating seamless experiences for players, how UI elements can be used to enhance storytelling (think of games like Fallout with diegetic UI elements), and how to balance complexity with accessibility. Kat also shares her insights on collaborating with other disciplines—narrative, art, and design teams—to ensure that the player’s journey through a game is intuitive and enriching.

Key Takeaways:

• The essential role of UI/UX design in enhancing narrative experience.
• How the graphical design elements and environmental design can amplify storytelling.
• Insights into the balance between complexity and accessibility for diverse player bases.
• Real-world examples from Kat’s work, including contributions to Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3.
• How networking, internships, and personal projects can help aspiring designers break into the industry.

If you're a storyteller, game designer, or just someone curious about the behind-the-scenes work in game development, this episode will offer valuable insights that bridge the gap between design and narrative.

Kat’s Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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-> ⁠⁠ArtStation

-> ⁠⁠Website/Portfolio

-> Instagram

-> Facebook

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