PsdTuts+ Presents: Encide Interface Battlebay Collaboration
We have numerous inspiring interface designs on display from the newly released Encide Battlebay Collaboration. If you love futuristic, vivid, pixel perfect, and imaginative interfaces, then check out this work. You’ll be blown away by some fantastic designs from those at the top of their game.
We’ll chat a bit with Tim Silva, one of the people of Encide. He’ll give us some insight into interface design and this project. Then we’ll take a look at a good portion of the artwork from this recent release.
Q What do you feel is important about interface design?
In an exponentially expanding age of technology, interfaces are seen more frequently than ever before in history. GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces) are designed to serve specific functions. It is the job of the designer, to provide and ensure a pleasant experience for the user.
Interfaces exist as interactive agents, but they are also an artistic outlet for designers to fuel creativity and communicate to their audiences.
Interfaces exist as interactive agents, but they are also an artistic outlet for designers to fuel creativity and communicate to their audiences. Designers must make interfaces believable, aesthetically rich, and detail oriented. The following battlebay steps are fantasy interfaces; pieces of art created to inspire you, the viewer.
Q Could you tell us about the Encide Interface Battlebay Collaboration?
This project took about three months to organize and complete, and it was worth every ounce of effort from the participants and the project director. I personally would like to thank everyone who was involved in this project, no matter how little or large your contribution was.
This landmark sufficiently demonstrates the contemporary skill set of an exceptional interface designer, something that hopefully will be laughed at in the future. We are truly standing on the shoulders of giants in the arenas of design, art, and technology. So let us never forget our roots, origins, and inspirations.
The 2009 Encide Interface Battlebay Collaboration took place from November 1st, 2009 through January 2010. This is a collaborative project to give interface design the attention it deserves. This is not a competition like the word “battlebay” seemingly suggests. We are a small community, and this is about the progression of our art.
Encide Interface Battlebay Collaboration
Below are some of the submissions from this vast collection. You can view all of them at Encide.net/battlebay.
“Step #01″ by Tim Silva
“Step #02″ by Jeff Nielson
“Step #03″ by Jimmy Bjorkman
“Step #05″ by Jedi88
“Step #06″ by Enzudesign
“Step #09″ by Henri Palm
“Step #10″ by robanat
“Step #11″ by Axertion
“Step #12″ by JG
“Step #15″ by Stoyan Shishev
“Step #17″ by Tsukasaxen
“Step #18″ by Etn1spi
“Step #20″ by godsilla
“Step #24″ by bl4ckzero
“Step #26″ by Beatsta
“Step #29″ by Ali
“Step #30″ by ZelnickDesigns
“Step #34″ by Jelle Pingen
“Step #36″ by lewa
“Step #39″ by Chukweuemeka Joseph
“Step #40″ by Lance Thackeray
“Step #44″ by Brett
“Step #50″ Kerry Johnson
“Step #53 by FuzzYspooN
“Step #56″ by BencY
Q Are there any special supporters of this project you’d like to mention?
We would like to make a special shout out to two of our friends who focus on similar genres within design and have been big supporters and pushers of this art: GUI.Station and Area01. The rest of the credits are throughout the page in the intro and the outro sections. I would like to mention that the beautiful logo design that appears in many of the interfaces was spawned from the genius mind of Jeff Nielsen (step #2). Also, the typography in the introduction was by Robb Meril, a talented young member of our community.
Interface Communities
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I recognize a few of these artists from their dA profiles. :)
There’s some excellent designs here. Lots of creativity on display.
HAHAHAHAH! 2002 called, they want their hilariously, futuristic interface designs back.
LOL i think so too.
HAHAHAHAHAHA! …. false
+1
They look ridiculous, and counter intuitive. Maybe back when everyone was rocking Windows Media Player 8 it was O.K, but it just looks ridiculous now.
I would just like to mention to you that it takes an insane amount of talent and creativity to make anything near this, so I would like to give you this chance to post something you’ve done…
Nothing? And that’s why your not a GUI artist.
You guys are welcome to your opinions, but this genre of design is timeless. Yes, it first became popular in the late 90s and the early 2000s, but it is still being actively and passionately explored to this day. Additionally, there are very significant differences between the early fantasy interfaces and contemporary ones seen in this battlebay and all around. They are become more 3D looking and more believably realistic than they ever were before.
Also, keep in mind that these were for fun. Most of us are web designers and digital artists who explore many other genres in design and art as well. We’re not stuck in the 2002 futuristic-interface-mindset, we just love making them.
You point out their supposed lack of originality with the old line “xxxxx called, they want their ……back ” That’s original. Nice going.
Interesting post, some very nice work.
What strikes me about them all is a certain same-ness, underscored by the choice of portraying them all on a dark background. Dystopian futuristic I appreciate as a design aesthetic, but when everything is dystopian futuristic they start to blur and it actually feels like a concentrated lack of creativity.
I’m in awe of the skill demonstrated in these pieces, but inspired only to avoid a style that is already a bit hackneyed.
As a digital artist, digital artwork is one of the last places you should seek inspiration…
Yeah, I think what you are saying makes sense. As a style they are all pretty similar, however, you can still study the different components of each piece to revers engineer different perspectives, lighting, angles, simulated textures and simulated actions.
In my own designs I have found that it’s easier to overkill with grunge and dark themed images/designs because they hide imperfections easier. Like with playing guitar, it’s easier to hid mistakes with a distorted guitar than it is with an acoustic.
I’m sure the artists on this post are versatile and are fluent in other styles too, I just wonder how they would handle a similar theme in an entirely different atmosphere or brightly lit environment.
Actually all of these artists are professional designers that hold web design jobs, this project was done on the side FOR FUN.
We are all well versed in other aspects of art including but not limited to general user interface work, digital abstract, digital manipulation, digital recreation, digital art in general and all sorts of other talents that span to coding in many languages and some of us are even handymen that keep an everyday job.
Being a part of Encide gave me the great pleasure of being invited to be apart of this project, although time and other projects permitted otherwise I will be attending 2010′s.
Grunge and dark themed interface may hide imperfections but it’s also a very hard theme to perfect, it can be easily overkill, but there is balance yet.
Reverse Engineering won’t do you well if you don’t know where to begin in the first place, I’ve designed for 6 years and still cannot reverse engineer some of the techniques done on some these pieces.
All of these may seem similar to the generic person, and if you see them as the same then yes I am calling you a “normal” person (non to compliment), and the way I see them as each individuals perspective and talent shining in each bit of detail, and each concept and idea applied.
2010 is another year and another year to demonstrate our abilities, don’t be surprised if it is something different. Light interfaces can still hide imperfections after all it is just color, not like we have any.
Jimmy Björkman is my hero :)
i think the first interfaces are the best ones
Really nice GUIs.. you could make just one tut on how to create a so nice interface ;)
Please, i would highly appreciate it, really ! : D
Please do some tutorials for people who want to learn it
EPIC !
I think it’s important to point out the difference between illustrations of objects and buttons that are meant to be consumed as art and a “real user interface” that is actually functional. Kind of like the difference between the work Mark Coleman does for UI simulations in the movies vs. real, actual UIs. The purpose of the first one is to add to an entertainment experience, and Mr. Coleman readily admits that the goal of that work is to WOW – not to represent real, practical user interfaces. I suspect that’s what is going on here. Mr. Silva sounds like a rational person who understands this difference, so I’m left wondering if I’ve missed something. The images shown seem to lack the qualities required by any real UI – they’re clearly about looking cool, and – as far as I can tell – not about the logical, intuitive organization and presentation of tools available to the user, who’s effectiveness is confirmed through user testing. I’m guessing that maybe the setting for this project has to do with “art” that contains user interface elements. To be clear, I’m not trying to impose my subjective opinion about what I like or don’t like as a user interface, but as someone who has designed user interfaces for nearly 15 years now, I feel like there’s some part of this I don’t understand because I don’t see any of the qualities of actual user interfaces here – they are a great thowback to Kai Power Tools though. Could be that the article doesn’t fully explain what we’re looking at, or it could be that I’ve just overlooked something.
Good Day.
You are thinking to hard. These were for fun, not to be be functional. We chose to create these as they go outside the box. Its fun to break away from grids, user experience and just have a blast making something that looks just…cool.
Try it some time ;)
That should be pointed out in the article – which was my original point.
I think the art itself speaks for itself. If you think these were created for actual use…..*facepalm*
It’s as appropriate as calling a Mondrian a user interface, I guess.
The execution of so many of these is mind-blowing. I have a great admiration for illustrators of your caliber. Cheers.
Was it really not completely obvious these were meant as FUI not GUI?
Totally stunning!
A tut about how to achieve something like that would be awesome!
Excellent interfaces great workmanship and imagination.
Any tut about this? btw, beautiful work, very impressive.
As hardcore music is to my ears, so is this guys work to my eyes. In other words, those who play hardcore music are extremely talented musicians, it’s just not my style of music. Same is with this guy’s work, he’s extremely talented, but it’s just not my style of design.
All are very interesting.
Interfaces? Where? For what?
Very nice display of design skills, but I really couldn’t tell you where the interfaces are, or what they’re supposed to achieve. I see some giant power buttons and a poorly-conceived media player or two. None of this says “progress” to me – mostly it says “2Advanced Studios circa 2001.”
Not trying to be a hater, but… I don’t get it?
This is about fun. We do interface work for a living, and we apply some of the same techniques seen here to our work as designers. If you’ve ever visited the pages of these talented artists you’ll see wher eit can be applied and to just name a few:
Anti-Virus Skins
OS Themes
Media Player skins
Web Designs
Portfolios
Widgets
Icons
Generally Cool art that blows you mind.
There’s practicality in every piece displayed it just requires IMAGINATION and CREATIVITY.
Hello Doug,
I suppose you didn’t read anything and that you just scrolled down to the images. But that’s okay, I can re-explain it here. These are “fantasy interfaces,” which means that they serve no function, rendering them useless from a user’s point of view.
Haha, if we had been making these for people’s use, then I wouldn’t even put my name on this thing! The point of this whole project, as I specified more than once, was to make cool looking interfaces purely for fun while aiming to inspire others.
Design is not art, design has boundaries, and we understand this. However, “fantasy interfaces,” are pieces of art, since they exist without the boundaries that usable user interfaces have. By being fantasy interfaces, these conceptions are freed from most limitations, allowing the designer to create as an artist.
I hope that answers all of your questions.
Kind regards,
-Tim Silva
Encide Battlebay is so amazing, I loved it from the first time I viewed it some months ago.
These are well put together but oh so dated.
this kind of stuff was uncool about 7 years ago!
Maybe to you lol. These types of designs are inspiring and fresh. All we see these days are 1px wrap lines and simplistic gradients thrown together in 960 Grid Systems.
I think stuff like this is a good reminder that cool stuff can still be done in designs. I’m not asking people to compromise user interactivity for over-complex graphics. Be creative and balance out the two. You’ll be surprised at the possibilities ;)
I agree, these could be rad if used in a website. I prefer this style over the new “let’s make everything abstract and neon” style.
You couldn’t fathom making something like this 7 years ago.
Oooo I was in that battlebay :D
cool, shame my wee mouse (#52) got left out haha :P
all the designs are cool but I don’t understand the purpose of doing this who cares if you can create cool looking interfaces when not many people will see them
If they can not be used, are they really interfaces?
In all seriousness, YES.
The same reason artists make paintings that hand in museums.
I don’t know, like seriously? We didn’t make these for you, we made them because we enjoying doing so. I have no clue why people just can’t appreciate the work and move on >_>
Not many people will see them, apparently you’ve been in the wrong place learning the wrong things, PSDTuts+ Seen them, and shared them with all of you and the world.
These all have practicality…ever been to:
Worldofwarcraft.com
starcraft2.com
diablo3.com
or basically ANY game website?
or any portfolio design?
or icon website?
or wallpaper website?
or myspace’s?
or used any computer/internet security tools?
or any fun pieces such as these fine specimens?
Do you live under a rock? Cause I know millions of people who care.
WoW WoW :o !!, very nice
“Interface” is a mere label for an artistic genre. In no way were these pieces destined for functionality.
Although, with Encide’s vast collection of knowledgeable coders, they certainly could have been.
The only people who attend concerts strictly to criticize the performances are miserable bigots. Cut your losses and enjoy the show for Christ’s sake.
Or, alternatively, just get up and exit the theater.
Thank you my friend, our point exactly.
See you later this year with more :D
I feel like many people are overlooking, thinking to hard, or just not reading. It is explained in the article as to what this piece is. It’s explained that none of these none of this pieces of work are meant to be realistic or functional, but rather a mer release of creativity and artistic expression. So any imperfection, such as “poorly-conceived media player or two” does not mean anything because functionality and reality are not apart of a “fantasy interfaces; pieces of art created to inspire you, the viewer.”
Firstly many thanks to PSD tuts for sharing a part of our little world to the broader audience.
Huge thanks to all the team at Encide especially Tim for making this all possible.
…. and to all those with negative comments , yes this particular style is to be considered old school, by today’s standards , but that’s nothing to really brag about, as any of us, could knock up a clean modern well structured layout, with minimal content in under half and hour , fact is as designers we are bored with it, while clean web 2.0 stuff etc pays the bills, as it’s what many want, little details and use of imagination is our personal love, just messing with textures, styles, brushing etc etc … loads of fun, no more bland beige designs.
Ones mans rubbish is another man’s treasure ;)
Anyways thanks for having us , we only hope you’ll see past all the rules and boring stuff, and try and picture more the fun we just had creating these in our spare time. :)
Inspirational work ! Stuff like this is what motivates me to try harder and improve :)
All designs are attractive
I came to knew that, most people who keep doing this know little about light, shade and form!
Only Photoshop!
-bronze (dA)
Also, a lot of this also came when skinners stopped making media/mp3 player skins, because these became more code-complex and time consuming. So for a nice while these stuff surfaced as unfinished concept designs on dA galleries, with symmetric-looking websites headers and footers for industrial designs and fantasy stuff.
To get a better skill and broaden your creative reach, my opinion is to get away from this if anyone has been doing since 2002… and explore asymmetry, more light/shadow, texture and form-functional humanized interfaces which is a lot harder to pull out: these tell a stronger story.
Go to cgchannel, for where to aspire from, if you want to go beyond these Photoshop tool-centric designs and free your self from brush against oval shapes.
Please tell me your kidding right?
Not even worth my time to try and explain how many times you were wrong in that entire paragraph.
Hello Rui,
Again, you are completely missing the point of the project. We were not attempting to create functional interfaces, and these types of designs are not the only thing we all create. Most of us are web designers, logo creators, digital artists, etc.
You are speaking on behalf of the participants as we are only fantasy interface designers with no creative ability. You can have your own opinion, but please take a minute to look at (at least) a few of the websites under each persons submission. You will find that most of us are highly diverse in what we do.
You make a few points that I strongly agree with, but at the same time, they do not apply to us or our community, only the assumptions that you have falsely made about us. We did this for fun because we enjoy these highly detailed contraptions, and it is posted here because there are many people who will enjoy seeing them.
Humanized interfaces are awesome, I completely agree, and that is where the future is headed. But, fantasy digital interfaces are something to do for fun to learn about the tools in photoshop, plus they just look cool and are fun to day dream about. It’s simple, and you are over complicating what we were trying to do. It’s the easiest thing in the world to do to just sit there and criticize something, especially when you are criticizing something that was done for fun.
Anyways, thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)
While the style has been around for some time, it simply cannot age except in physique, just like cars. Saying this is old is calling glass, metal, light, and gloss old, which just simply can not be. While we’re in minimalistic, retro, and scrappy abstract trends, these are often achieved using metal and glass etc.components; especially in device and game user interfaces, and a lot of “high-class” designs.
One thing modern day design trends often lack is complexity and that makes for very easy and boring work for many experienced GUI designers. John Blasting (Comment #2) has only proven to me that he is new or inexperienced in interface design and certainly lacking versatility and a wide scope of techniques.. What he may call a fresh 2010 design, these guys regularly do with eyes closed and have done so for some years now. I.e. If you can design well in this style, what interface could you not build? It’s likely they are well out of his league and he doesn’t realise that this style is still common because, for many, it’s the only style that still offers actual challenge and that sense of “Look at what I have accomplished!”.
I see it as Chopin playing ‘Coldplay – Clocks’ on the piano: He can do much more and it would be more beautiful, but we need to respect the modern mainstream and that means repeating a variating 3-note 6/8 scale over and over for four and a half minutes or until the ticket buyers can scream no more. In the end, my knowing how to play Clocks on a piano by no means makes me a pianist. Likewise comments like #2 make me question the value of the poster as a comprehensive designer.
I love all this designs, still can not find someone to give me an encide invitation :(
Are you kidding me?
I’m very shocked to read what most of you guys have posted here. Thanks to Tim making the point clear.
Love it, Hate it, we’re going to be doing this thing for a long time to come.
Hi everyone. Great designs. The echoing question, as mentioned in the above posts, are there any tutorials out there teaching about interface designs like these. Also, what applications were used to create them?
Photoshop ?
Illustrator ?
3DS Max ?
Some of us would like to also become better acquainted with better interface design.
Like: “Step #34″ by Jelle Pingen – how did you make those hoses, very nice. or
Like: “Step #40″ by Lance Thackeray – how did you make those tubings ? Awesome.
Of coarse all of the designs are inspiring. Please give us some heads up on such tutorials, so that we can also embrace such talent.
Cheers
Hey Delano, Lance here from step #40.
Thanks for your kind words. I don’t have any specific tutorial for those cables but they were actually simpler to create that you may think. I started with drawing a path with the pen tool then stroked the path using a brush to create the basic shape. Then it was just a case of adding a couple layer styles for basic shading then using a white brush and eraser to add the main highlights. The end lights are once again just little ovals with some general styles.
Of course, simple methods are only simple if you know how so thanks for asking. Hope that helps some. =]
Peace, Lance
best fantasy GUI I’ve ever seen
I don’t understand why many people against this piece of arts, maybe they also critiqued Surrealism for not following real world standard. Anyone may create anything they want without second thought about functionality or how it works, I suggest to enjoy the show.
I think this is very wonderful and stunning. I hope there would be another inspirational event like this in the future
best regards,
Thanks for your comment sandking, you definitely are understanding this correctly. :)
Wow, so cool to see people appreciating it.
Again, Tim – great job.
Encide ; Keep kicking ass.
When’s the next one!