Advanced UI/UX for Games: Genshin Impact Enhancement Systems
Led by Ivy Sang (Blizzard UX/UI Design Lead), this 6-week course focused on advanced game UI/UX principles. Applied frameworks for usability, desirability, scalability, and feasibility to design enhanced artifact management and character customization systems for Genshin Impact.
6 weeks
Course Instructor (Ivy Sang), Solo Project
UI/UX Designer
2025
The Challenge
End-game players in Genshin Impact face complex artifact management requiring extensive screen navigation and memory retention. Character builds become non-linear and ambiguous, with players preferring third-party optimization tools over in-game systems.
Research & Discovery
Applied systematic research methodologies to understand player behavior patterns and pain points in complex game systems.
How badly have players wanted to solve this problem?
- •Players build and use third-party tools to optimize their artifact management
- •In earlier versions of the optimizer, players had to manually upload screenshots of each item in their inventory
- •Players preferred to spend hours in the optimizer that they could've spent in-game
Current State Analysis
Artifacts Screen
Large quantity of artifacts that can easily become bloated, player has little control over groupings/labels.
Consistent with world palette and stylization. Placid, pleasant look/feel.
Full screen with scroll view allows the artifact list to expand with ease.
Character Level Up Screen
Required materials are out of context from rest of inventory in this nested menu. Player must make a decision in a vacuum or by bouncing back and forth between screens.
Clean and lots of negative space, but not too exciting or alluring.
List of stats can be expanded.
Player Persona Analysis
Analyzed end-game players (AR 45+, WL 6+) and character creators
Key Insights:
- End-game players change artifacts daily for different teams
- More characters = more artifact management complexity
- Creative freedom increases player ownership
Pain Point Assessment
Evaluated current artifact and character systems
Key Insights:
- Comparative analysis requires extensive screen navigation
- No custom grouping/labeling for different playstyles
- Players build third-party tools to optimize management
Usability Framework Application
Applied course framework: Usability, Desirability, Scalability, Feasibility
Key Insights:
- Large artifact quantities become bloated with little control
- Consistent visual design maintains world palette
- Full screen scroll views allow list expansion
Goal and scope framework analysis showing usability, desirability, scalability, and feasibility assessment for the Enhanced UI/UX for Games project.
The Solution
Three interconnected systems addressing artifact management complexity, character build optimization, and player retention through enhanced UX frameworks.
Elemental Pouches System
Custom artifact grouping system allowing players to create and name their own groups inside the artifact tab. Drag-and-drop interface with clear visual feedback for organizing artifacts by character, playstyle, or team composition.
Enhanced Character Watchlists
Comprehensive character progression tracking with level-up goals, required materials visualization, and cross-platform compatibility. Features watchlist management for multiple characters with progress indicators.
Mobile
Enhancement Forge Interface
Intuitive character customization system with real-time feedback and playful experimentation. Visual stat comparisons and enhancement summaries allow players to make informed decisions without external tools.
Playful
Experiment freely in the Character menu without committing to a combination.
Intuitive
Real Time feedback without relying on textual explanations or back-and-forth navigation. Visualize the impact of your choices with low stakes.
Design Process
Player Research & Persona Definition
Activities
- Player behavior analysis
- Persona development
- Pain point mapping
Deliverables
- End-game player personas
- Character creator profiles
- Pain point documentation
Framework Application & Risk Assessment
Activities
- Usability/Desirability/Scalability analysis
- Risk matrix creation
- Success metrics definition
Deliverables
- Assessment framework
- Risk mitigation strategies
- Success criteria
Wireframing & Prototyping
Activities
- Low-fidelity wireframes
- User flow mapping
- Interaction design
Deliverables
- System wireframes
- User journey maps
- Interaction specifications
Visual Design & Testing
Activities
- High-fidelity mockups
- Visual consistency check
- Usability validation
Deliverables
- Final designs
- Design specifications
- Usability test results
Results & Impact
Successfully applied advanced UX frameworks to create game systems that balance player needs with technical constraints, demonstrating systematic approach to complex UI challenges.
"I want to customize the character flow in the game. The more I can customize and influence, the more ownership I feel over my experience and the more I relate to my chosen character."
Key Learnings
Game UI complexity should scale with player expertise - beginners need guidance, experts need efficiency
Player agency and creative freedom directly correlate with engagement and ownership
Systematic frameworks (Usability/Desirability/Scalability/Feasibility) provide structured approaches to complex design problems
Real-time feedback in games eliminates need for external tools and increases player confidence in decisions
Next Steps
Apply learnings to other game genres and complex systems
Develop comprehensive design system for game UI components
Create player onboarding flows that scale with expertise
Build prototypes for other miHoYo games using same frameworks