Hi, I’m Joey.
Generative Branding & Interactive Systems
Email Linkedin Résumé Nexgen
Product Design | UI/UX | Design Systems
Nexgen is a communication platform designed to make online gaming safer and more inclusive for Gen Z players. Rooted in the realities of gender discrimination within gaming communities, this project reimagines interaction itself: replacing text-heavy systems with a universal, emoji-based language. Nexgen empowers players to connect beyond words—and beyond bias.
New Talent Awards 2025 - Honorable Mention
Indigo Design Award 2025 - Gold and Silver Winner
Strategic FrameworkResearch showed persistent gaps in the gaming space, from gender bias to a lack of safe, expressive environments. Mapping user behavior and competitor patterns made the need clear: players want identity protection and healthier ways to interact. Nexgen is designed directly in response to these findings.
Branding System
The logo abstracts a leaping figure into a kinetic "X"—fluid, intertwined, expressing evolution and non-binary openness. The final mark emerged from exploring wordmark variations and symbolic icons. Colors carry meaning: Inclusive Coral and Empowerment Purple lead, supported by Unity Blue, Equality Violet, Diversity Magenta, Harmony Pink, and Equity Rose.
Icons and Emojis
The system shifts from representation to abstraction by using cyber-purple, stylized avatars that remove racial and gender cues and focus attention on expression rather than appearance. The icons follow the logic of RPG action tokens, each functioning as a clear visual unit of emotion or intent. Together, they form a simple, safe, and bias-free way for users to communicate without relying on words.
Key Features
Safety built into the interaction layer. A curated emoji system replaces open text, filtering harmful language before it happens. Two modes—Casual Chat and Deep Discussion—let users choose their level of engagement.
Outdoor Promotion
The posters reframe inclusivity through the energy of competitive gaming. Identities become heroes; the platform becomes a world to explore. Applied across transit advertising and outdoor displays, the campaign brings social awareness into public space with the visual language of esports and sci-fi.
MerchandiseThe merchandise functions as physical identity markers. Techwear-inspired bags, streetwear pieces, and ID-style badges give users gear that represents their role within the Nexgen faction. These objects act as real-world extensions of the app’s ecosystem, creating instant recognition and a sense of shared territory.
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