Tabletop Games
Graphic Design
Encompassing nearly every aspect of every component, both inside and outside of the box.
Quick Navigation
Logos & Packaging
Customer-facing materials, important for getting attention and building excitement about what’s inside.
Original Logos
Logo for Star Wars: Rebellion as it appears on the front of the box. Tools used: Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Logo for Love Letter (Z-Man Edition). This is how it appears on the front of the packaging, with wordmark, wax stamp icon, and designer name on an original paper texture and letter graphic. Tools used: Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
Logo for Citadels (Windrider/Z-Man Games Editions) as it appears on the side of the box, on an original repeating stone texture used for packaging. Tools used: Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
Logo for Mission: Red Planet (FFG Edition). Tools used: Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Logo for Condottiere (Z-Man Edition). Tools used: Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
Logo for CRYO. Tools used: Blender and Adobe Photoshop.
Logo for History of the World (Z-Man Edition). Tools used: Blender, Adobe Photoshop.
Logo for XCOM: The Board Game. This was created using the same font used for the original XCOM: Enemy Unknown logo, with screen/glow effects recreated from scratch. Tools used: Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
Logo for Pandemic: Rising Tide. Incorporates original Pandemic logo. Tools used: Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
Logo for Fae. Tools used: Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
Logo for SpyNet. Tools used: Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
Logo for Windrider Games. Tools used: Adobe Illustrator.
Logo for Windrider Games, as it appears on packaging and rulebook for Citadels (Windrider Edition).
Logo for Windrider Games, as it appears on packaging for Citadels (Windrider Edition).
Logo for Windrider Games, as it appears on packaging and rulebook for RA (Windrider Edition).
Logo for Windrider Games, as it appears on packaging for RA (Windrider Edition).
Windrider Games logo variations and usage sheet.
Packaging Design
Box for Star Wars: Rebellion. Logo/Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota.
Cover for Star Wars: Rebellion. Logo/Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota.
Box for Citadels (Z-Man Edition). Logo, Graphic Design, and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota.
Box for Citadels (Z-Man Edition). Logo, Graphic Design, 3D rendering, and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota.
Box for CRYO. Logo, Art Design/Direction, and 3D modeling (ship and planet) by Samuel R. Shimota. Illustration / artistic execution by Bree Lindsoe. Graphic Design/Layout by Jasmine Radue.
Box for Mission: Red Planet (FFG edition). Logo/Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota.
Box for XCOM: The Board Game. Logo & Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota.
Cover for XCOM: The Board Game. Logo & Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota.
Box for Pandemic: Rising Tide. Logo, Graphic Design, and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Illustration by Atha Kanaani.
Box for History of the World (Z-Man Games edition). Logo, Graphic Design, and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Illustration by Mateusz Lenart.
Cover for History of the World (Z-Man Games edition). Logo, Graphic Design, and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Illustration by Mateusz Lenart.
Box base for History of the World (Z-Man Games edition). Logo, Graphic Design, and 3D rendering by Samuel R. Shimota.
Packaging for Love Letter (Z-Man Games edition). Left: "PDQ"–A shipping and display box that holds and displays six copies of the game. Right: One copy of product. Logo, Graphic Design, and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Illustration (Princess is visible on PDQ) by Andrew Bosley.
Packaging back for Love Letter (Z-Man Games edition). Logo, Graphic Design, Art Direction, and 3D mockup (tokens) by Samuel R. Shimota. Illustration (Princess, and visible card artwork) by Andrew Bosley.
Cover for Condottiere. Logo, Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota. Art Direction by Bree Lindsoe and Samuel R. Shimota. Illustration by Tomasz Jedruszek.
Box back for Condottiere. Logo, Graphic Design, and Layout by Samuel R. Shimota. Art Direction by Bree Lindsoe and Samuel R. Shimota. Illustration by Tomasz Jedruszek.
Box for Fae. Logo, Graphic Design, and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Illustration by Atha Kanaani.
Cover for SpyNet. Logo, Graphic Design, and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Illustration by Ross Curtis.
Cover for SpyNet. Logo, Graphic Design, and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Illustration by Ross Curtis.
Box for Bastion. Layout & Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota. Logo and illustration provided by Hobby World. This was a localization project which was repackaged and updated for the North American market.
Back of box for Bastion. Layout, Graphic Design, and 3D renders by Samuel R. Shimota.
End of the World RPG series, Book 1: Zombie Apocalypse. Graphic Design, Layout, and Color Treatment by Samuel R. Shimota. Logo and illustration provided by EDGE Entertainment. This was a localization project which was repackaged for the North American market.
End of the World RPG series, Book 2: Wrath of the Gods. Graphic Design, Layout, and Color Treatment by Samuel R. Shimota. Logo and illustration provided by EDGE Entertainment. This was a localization project which was repackaged for the North American market.
End of the World RPG series, Book 4: Revolt of the Machines. Graphic Design, Layout, and Color Treatment by Samuel R. Shimota. Logo and illustration provided by EDGE Entertainment. This was a localization project which was repackaged for the North American market.
End of the World RPG series, Book 3: Alien Invasion. Graphic Design, Layout, and Color Treatment by Samuel R. Shimota. Logo and illustration provided by EDGE Entertainment. This was a localization project which was repackaged for the North American market.
Box for Game of Thrones: The Trivia Game. "The Trivia Game" logo addition and Graphic Design/Layout by Samuel R. Shimota. Original design assets (product logo, framing, and house symbols) were provided by Home Box Office, Inc.
Box for Kingsburg (Z-Man Games edition). Layout/Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota. Logo and illustration provided by Giochi Uniti. This was a localization project which was repackaged for the North American market.
Box for Relic: Halls of Terra. Graphic Design & Layout by Samuel R. Shimota.
Borders and Frames
Reinforcing theme and visual consistency throughout a product.
Star Wars: Rebellion game board excerpt. Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota. Featuring Graphic Design work by David Ardila (planet HUDs and card backs on far left and far right).
Star Wars: Rebellion cards. Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota.
Star Wars: Armada cards. Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota.
Citadels rulebook excerpt. Graphic Design, Layout, and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota. The concept for this rulebook was that it would look like an old leatherbound book.
Citadels rulebook excerpt. Logo, Graphic Design, Layout, 3D Renders, and Diagrams by Samuel R. Shimota. The concept for this rulebook was that it would look like an old leatherbound book.
Citadels district cards. Graphic Design and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota.
Citadels unique district cards. Graphic Design and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota.
Citadels punchboard. Graphic Design and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Left: full information side. Right: minimal information side, for advanced players.
Condottiere rulebook excerpt (photo). Logo, Graphic Design, Layout, and 3D Renders by Samuel R. Shimota.
Condottiere cards. Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota.
Fury of Dracula rulebook excerpt. Graphic Design & Layout by Samuel R. Shimota. Featuring component Graphic Design by Christopher Beck.
Fury of Dracula location cards. Graphic Design & Artwork by Samuel R. Shimota. Featured, right: mini-map showing locations on a miniaturized board. This was a secondary wayfinding system to help the Dracula player quickly identify locations while keeping information hidden.
Fury of Dracula location cards. Graphic Design and Artwork by Samuel R. Shimota.
Fury of Dracula board excerpt. Graphic Design & Artwork by Samuel R. Shimota.
Fury of Dracula board excerpt. Graphic Design & Artwork by Samuel R. Shimota.
History of the World (Z-Man edition) rulebook cover. Logo, Graphic Design, Layout, and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota.
Love Letter (Z-Man Games edition) rulebook cover. Logo, Graphic Design, and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota.
Love Letter (Z-Man Games edition) card. Graphic Design and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota. The card frames for this game were hand-illustrated with pencil and watercolor, and post-produced in Photoshop.
Mission: Red Planet (FFG edition) rulebook excerpt. Logo, Graphic Design & Layout by Samuel R. Shimota.
Mission: Red Planet (FFG edition) cards. Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota.
Mission: Red Planet (FFG edition) rulebook excerpt. Graphic Design & Layout by Samuel R. Shimota.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – A Pandemic System Game cards. Graphic Design and style direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Graphic Design for this project was shared across a team, with an emphasis on a consistent, painterly style. Graphic Design: Monica Helland, Bree Lindsoe, and Samuel R. Shimota, with Dan Gerlach.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – A Pandemic System Game player sheets. Graphic Design and style direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Graphic Design for this project was shared across a team, with an emphasis on a consistent, painterly style. Graphic Design: Bree Lindsoe and Samuel R. Shimota.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – A Pandemic System Game cards. Graphic Design and style direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Graphic Design for this project was shared across a team, with an emphasis on a consistent, painterly style. Graphic Design: Monica Helland, Bree Lindsoe, and Samuel R. Shimota.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – A Pandemic System Game quest sheets. Graphic Design and style direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Graphic Design for this project was shared across a team, with an emphasis on a consistent, painterly style. Graphic Design: Jasmine Radue and Samuel R. Shimota.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – A Pandemic System Game cards. Graphic Design and style direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Graphic Design for this project was shared across a team, with an emphasis on a consistent, painterly style. Graphic Design: Monica Helland, Bree Lindsoe, and Samuel R. Shimota.
Relic: Halls of Terra champion cards. Graphic Design / Layout by Samuel R. Shimota.
Iconography
Facilitating smooth gameplay and overall readability of a product; addressing theme, beauty, and game mechanics all at once.
Condottiere cards. One of the challenges of making a new version of Condottiere was addressing memory issues related to special card effects. Previous editions didn't have rules text on special cards, and so players had to memorize all of the game effects. The icon language for Condottiere was designed to be reminiscent of the sort of clean and informative iconography used in Euro games.
Condottiere rulebook excerpt. One of the challenges of making a new version of Condottiere was addressing memory issues related to special card effects. Previous editions didn't have rules text on special cards, and so players had to memorize all of the game effects. The icon language for Condottiere was designed to be reminiscent of the sort of clean and informative iconography used in Euro games.
Fury of Dracula (FFG Edition) board excerpt.
Fury of Dracula (FFG Edition) board excerpt.
Love Letter bag and tokens, featuring a re-designed version of the scale icon used in the original Love Letter.
Mission: Red Planet (FFG edition) components. Iconographic features include the mini-map in the corner of mission cards, resource icons, and game phase icons (seen on the dial and on mission cards).
Mission: Red Planet resource tokens. Iconography for ice, sylvanite, and celerium.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King player cards. Iconography for attack, block, travel, and heal. Original designs by Dan Gerlach, with finishing work (for readability and style) by Samuel R. Shimota.
Relic: Halls of Terra punchboard tokens. Designs based on original Warhammer 40k materials by Games Workshop.
Relic: Halls of Terra rulebook excerpt. Featured: affiliation iconography. This page shows both, a. how icons are presented large-scale on cards and tokens and, b. the smaller, fonted versions of the icons used in body type. The smaller versions are reduced to one color and exaggerated for readability.
Relic: Halls of Terra rulebook excerpt. Featured: original iconography used on the game board to indicate special movement mechanics.
Star Wars: Armada equipment/upgrade cards. Iconography indicates compatibility of specific upgrade types with certain ships.
Star Wars: Armada equipment/upgrade, and damage cards.
XCOM: The Board Game cards. Four icons indicate player roles, and their related components.
XCOM: The Board Game cards. Four icons indicate player roles, and their related components.
Citadels (Z-Man edition) rulebook excerpt. Icons denote district types and indicate synergy effects on other cards/components.
Fonts and Typesetting
Affecting the emotional impact of words, driving theme, and making (or breaking) the legibility of a product.
Condottiere rulebook excerpt. Featuring full-color drop cap style (seen under "Playing the Game")
Dark Heresy (Second Edition) chapter excerpt. The primary Graphic Design task of this project was to blend artwork into the page, balancing illustrations against type.
Love Letter (Z-Man Edition) reference cards. Face-up, they operate as an active reference for all card types; face-down, they indicate when a player has been eliminated from the round.
Mission: Red Planet (FFG Edition) role and mission cards. Role cards were designed for legibility when fanned, as players begin the game with nine cards in-hand. Mission card design challenge: legibility at small scale (Mini-American sized cards).
Pandemic: Rising Tide cards. Left: role card back, right: reference cards. Pandemic reference cards have a very particular layout style that has been passed down throughout the series. Challenge: create something unique to Rising Tide, while staying true to the series.
Citadels (Z-Man Edition) role cards.
Patterns and Fills
Whether supporting type (e.g. text boxes) or filling space (e.g. card backs), patterns and fills are the backdrop of a product.
Citadels (Z-Man Edition) card backs. Left: Role cards, tarot size; right: district cards, standard European size.
Citadels (Z-Man Edition) district card back. Standard European card size.
Fury of Dracula (FFG Edition) back of Dracula player map sheet. 8.25" wide x 6" tall.
Fury of Dracula (FFG Edition) back of player sheets. 6" wide x 4" tall.
Love Letter (Z-Man Edition) cards. Poker size. Left: game card back, center: game card fronts, right: reference card back.
Love Letter (Z-Man Edition) game cards. Poker size. Left: card back, center: card front.
Mission: Red Planet (FFG Edition) dial and card backs.
Mission: Red Planet (FFG Edition) dial and dock backs.
Mission: Red Planet (FFG Edition) card backs. Larger cards are poker size, and smaller cards are mini-American size.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – A Pandemic System Game dungeon / icecrown citadel sheet backs. 6" x 4". Graphic Design and style direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Graphic Design for this project was shared across a team, with an emphasis on a consistent, painterly style. Graphic Design: Bree Lindsoe and Samuel R. Shimota.
Game Boards
Beautiful, multi-disciplinary centerpieces.
Star Wars: Rebellion game board. 44" wide x 22" tall. This is a massive piece, comprised of two 2x2-panel boards. Graphic Design & Layout by Samuel R. Shimota. Featuring graphic design by David Ardila (planet HUDs, iconography, and projects/objectives card backs), and planet artwork by various artists. Tools used: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
Pandemic Legacy Season 0 game board. 3D rendered artwork by Samuel R. Shimota. Graphic Design by Monica Helland. Tools used (artwork): Blender 3D, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – A Pandemic System Game board. 30" wide x 19" tall. Graphic Design / Style Direction and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Graphic Design for this project was shared across a team, with an emphasis on a consistent, painterly style. Graphic Design: Monica Helland, Bree Lindsoe, and Samuel R. Shimota.
Fury of Dracula (FFG Edition) game board. 33" wide, 22" tall. Original and 100% created by Samuel R. Shimota. Tools used: Sketchup 3D, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
Fury of Dracula (FFG Edition) reference board. 8.25" wide x 6" tall. Original and 100% created by Samuel R. Shimota. This is a smaller version of the game board for the Dracula player to use as a secretive reference. Text size increased for legibility compared to full-size board. Tools used: Sketchup 3D, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
Condottiere game board. 8.25" wide x 11.25" tall. Original and 100% created by Samuel R. Shimota. Tools used: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign.
CRYO game board. 22.5" wide x 24.75" tall. Artwork and Design by Jasmine Radue, Bree Lindsoe, and Samuel R. Shimota. Tools used: Blender 3D, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
Pandemic: Fall of Rome game board. 22.5" wide x 16.5" tall. Map artwork by Samuel R. Shimota. Graphic Design by Monica Helland, Jasmine Radue, and Dan Gerlach. Tools used: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
Pandemic: Rising Tide game board. 16.5" wide x 22.5" tall. Artwork and Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota, Marie-Eve Joly, and Atha Kanaani. Tools used: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
History of the World (Z-Man Edition) game board. 33" wide x 22" tall. Graphic Design Direction and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Graphic Design by David Ardila with Samuel R. Shimota.
Fae game board. 22.5" wide x 16.5" tall. Graphic Design Direction and Art Direction by Samuel R. Shimota. Illustration/Artwork by Bree Lindsoe. Graphic Design by Daniel Gerlach.
Relic: Halls of Terra game board. 22" wide x 11.25" tall. Layout and Graphic Design by Samuel R. Shimota, based on game line Graphic Design, and containing artwork by various artists. The ornate borders separating the rows of the board are original artwork by Samuel R. Shimota. Tools used: Ink on paper, Adobe Photoshop & InDesign.
Product photography by Samuel R. Shimota.
Legal Notice: Materials on this page are not owned by Samuel R. Shimota, and are presented only as portfolio references.
A Game of Thrones Trivia Game: Series title, artwork, and photographs © 2015 Home Box Office, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Game of Thrones is a trademark of Home Box Office, Inc. Rules and game text © 2015 Fantasy Flight Games. All rights reserved.
Bastion: © 2015–2017, Hobby World. Bastion, Hobby World, and the Berserk setting are TM of Hobby World.
Citadels: © 2016 Z-Man Games. Z-Man Games is a ® of Z-Man Games. Citadels and the Z-Man logo are TM of Z-Man Games.
Condottiere: © 2018 Z-Man Games.
CRYO: TM/® & © 2020 Z-Man Games.
End of the World: © 2014 Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc.The End of the World is a trademark of Edge Entertainment. Used under license from Edge Entertainment.
Fae: © and ™ 2018 Z-Man Games.
Fury of Dracula (Third Edition): Fury of Dracula © Copyright Games Workshop Limited 2015. Fury of Dracula, the Fury of Dracula logo, GW, Games Workshop, and all associated logos, illustrations, images, names, creatures, races, vehicles, locations, weapons, characters, and the distinctive likeness thereof, are either ® or TM, and/or © Games Workshop Limited, variably registered around the world, and used under license. This edition published under license to Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc.
History of the World (Z-Man Games Edition): © and ™ 2018 Z-Man Games.
Kingsburg: Kingsburg is TM & © 2017 Giochi Uniti srl.
Love Letter (Z-Man Games Edition): © and ™ 2019 Z-Man Games.
Mission: Red Planet (FFG Edition): © 2015 Fantasy Flight Games.
Pandemic: Fall of Rome: © 2018 Z-Man Games. Pandemic is a ® of Z-Man Games.
Pandemic Rising Tide: © 2017 Z-Man Games. Pandemic is a ® of Z-Man Games.
RA (Windrider Games Edition): © Dr. Reiner Knizia 2016 & © 2016 Windrider Games. Ra is a TM of Windrider Games.
Relic: Halls of Terra: Relic: Halls of Terra © Copyright Games Workshop Limited 2014. Relic, Halls of Terra, the Relic logo, Talisman, the Talisman logo, GW, Games Workshop, Space Marine, 40K, Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, 40,000, the ‘Aquila’ Double-headed Eagle logo, and all associated logos, illustrations, images, names, creatures, races, vehicles, locations, weapons, characters, and the distinctive likeness thereof, are either ® or TM, and/or © Games Workshop Limited, variably registered around the world, and used under license. This edition published under license to Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc.
SpyNet: © and ™ 2017 Z-Man Games.
STAR WARS: Armada: © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.
STAR WARS: Rebellion: © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.
Warhammer 40,000 Dark Heresy (Second Edition): © Games Workshop Limited 2014. Dark Heresy, GW, Games Workshop, the Games Workshop logo, Space Marine, 40K, Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000 Role Play, Warhammer 40,000 device, ‘Aquila’ Double-Headed Eagle device, and all associated marks, logos, places, names, creatures, races and race insignia/devices/logos/symbols, vehicles, locations, weapons, units and unit insignia, characters, products and illustrations from the Warhammer 40,000 universe and the Dark Heresy game setting are either ® or TM, and/or © Games Workshop Limited, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world. This edition published under license to Fantasy Flight Publishing Inc.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – A Pandemic System Game: Pandemic is ® of Z-Man Games. © 2021 Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Blizzard, World of Warcraft and the Blizzard Entertainment logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc in the U.S.and other countries.
XCOM: The Board Game: © 1994-2014 Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. and its subsidiaries. © 2014 Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc. XCOM, XCOM:Enemy Unknown, Firaxis Games, the Firaxis Games logo, 2K, the 2K logo and Take-Two Interactive Software are all trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. in the United States and/or foreign countries.
Z-Man Games: Z-Man Games is ® of Z-Man Games.
Fantasy Flight Games: Fantasy Flight Games is a ® of Fantasy Flight Games.
Windrider Games: Windrider Games and the Windrider logo are ™ of WindRider Games.
All rights reserved to their respective owners.