beautiful render of board games and card illustrations for concept design

Custom Board Game Art & Design

For Studios, Creators, and Dreamers

“The design phase most creators skip—but can't afford to.”

Whether you're crafting a strategy-heavy deckbuilder or a cozy narrative tabletop game, great board game art doesn't start in Photoshop. It starts in the messy middle: reference hunts, storytelling research, visual DNA maps. I help you figure out what this world should feel like before we start making it look beautiful.

I’ve worked with indie devs, game publishers, and solo creators to turn vague themes and rough mechanics into rich, immersive visuals that sell the idea at first glance. My job is to help your board game world make sense—to players, to backers, and to the team building it.

If you're looking for a visual development partner who’ll actually sit with your game’s soul before designing its surface, we should definitely talk.

card design in perspective

What’s Included:

  • Concept art for world, characters, props, and environments

  • Custom card layout and visual systems

  • Character, monster, or faction development

  • Game iconography and UI elements

  • Packaging and box art design

  • Art for Kickstarter campaigns and pitch decks

  • 3D miniature sculpts (digital or traditional clay)

  • File delivery prepped for print or handoff to manufacturers

  • Collaboration on theme, tone, and visual strategy

  • Scheduled review calls & milestone check-ins

What’s Not Included:
Licensing fees for third-party printing, manufacturing costs, fulfillment or retail logistics. (But I’m happy to connect you with folks who do that.)

We dive deep into your theme, game mechanics, and audience. I’ll map out visual archetypes and research what makes your game unique.

I’ll break the project into clear phases—concept, sketch, refinement, final art—so you always know where we are and what’s next.

We’ll go from napkin sketch to fully-rendered cards, box art, and miniatures.

I’ll be your art department, your consultant, and your hype guy.

Board Game and Card Art Services

To book, we require a 33% deposit, a 33% by mid-milestones, and a 33% billed at the end of the project. Reach and and contact for a custom setup/day rate if you have on-going needs.

feedback and iteration plan

Character Tokens & Icons – Stylized, clear in-game components.

beautiful illustration on 3d card design

Card Layouts – Readable, visual-forward interfaces.

people playing board games

Box & Rulebook Art – Branding and instruction visuals

66%

Pre-production time reduction while working with Ashfall / NetEase Games by integrating advanced 3D workflows and modern concept art techniques, delivering AAA-level assets with professional, fast turnaround times that save your budget.

33%

Art quality improvement for Frictional Games through maintaining and expanding style guides and material libraries inside a 3D rendering engine, ensuring consistent, high-impact concept development.

90%

First-go approval rate working with Electronic Arts DICE / under Milford SE, demonstrating reliability and seamless integration into high-profile production pipelines.

Special pricing available for long-term projects over 60 days—contact me for a custom arrangement tailored to your ongoing concept art needs.

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Board Game and Card Art Portfolio

beautiful and engaging scifi character design in fantasy setting
miner character creature design in scifi setting
female creature design in scifi setting
female bust concept design in scifi iterations
thumbnail explorations of different alien characters
explorations of assets and accessories for games
scifi female alien designs with accessory variations
scifi design for games with knight armor
armored character design for board games
beautiful card illustration of a robot in scifi setting
ancient cave with character robot design
ancient setting with robotic design
robot in space station, concept
concept variation of character in space station

  • It’s very hard to find a professional like Miguel. Very organized, prolific and effective with his workflow. Not to mention the impressive quality of ideas he brings to the table. It’s an honor to have worked with him!

    João Lira, Lead Concept Artist on Star Atlas, ATMTA Group

  • The director loved the works we just delivered from our collaboration! Thank you for helping us.

    Alice Zhang, Translator and Producer, NetEase Games

  • I want to say that your proposal was the most professional I’ve seen in a long time, even better than most freelancers and other AAA studios we’re working with.

    James Ohlen, VP Studio Head, Archetype Entertainment / Wizards of the Coast’ Company.

  • It was fantastic working with you on these, you're an exceptional talent with a wonderful work ethic. You had a tasteful process for creative exploration, and your balance of structure and freedom always invigorated our sessions. Looking forward to the future, Miguel.

    River Gandour, CEO of Third Book

Discovery & Development: Where Good Games Begin

Every board game I work on starts here—with research, story mapping, and strategic worldbuilding. This is the part most studios rush past, but it’s where we lay the foundation for artwork that actually supports gameplay and sells your idea.

These aren’t just moodboards—they’re visual storytelling blueprints. Together, we figure out what your game feels like before we ever put pen to paper. I ask questions. I dig deep. I get obsessed with your game's mechanics, audience, and soul—so the final visuals feel inevitable.

board games with moody card illustrations, dice, and everything needed to play

Card & Game Component Design That Feels Playable

Whether it’s a tactical card battler or a narrative-driven party game, I design card layouts, icons, and visuals that are actually fun to look at and use. The goal? Visual clarity meets irresistible flavor.

From early ideation sketches to polished print-ready assets, I create everything your game needs to feel like a premium, professional product—because it should.

Physical Worldbuilding: Miniatures & 3D Assets

Miniatures aren’t just collectibles—they’re part of the game’s storytelling. Whether you need high-fidelity concept sculpts for fantasy creatures or stylized characters that match your IP, I offer both digital and traditional sculpture.

Here, I’m sculpting by hand to capture gesture, silhouette, and mood. You’ll get miniatures that feel alive on the table—and wow players from the box art to the battlefield.

  • professional and beautifully shot wacom tablet for digital drawing and design

    You’ll get a complete collaborative board (think Miro or similar) with visual references, sketches, color studies, iconography tests, and even mockups of cards and boards. I’ll walk you through my design decisions in video breakdowns you can revisit at any stage.

  • concept art workstation background, with professional software rendering

    When we work together, I clear my schedule for your game — no juggling clients, no half-baked solutions. You’ll have my full attention to help shape a game that looks amazing and plays even better. It’s design that respects the mechanics and the lore.

  • professional freelance artist taking notes on a macbook and leading a online meeting.

    We start from your game mechanics and theme. From there, I design cards, tokens, boards, and packaging that feel cohesive — not just functional, but tactile and desirable. That “I want to play this” feeling starts way before the first move.

  • resources and physical design books on a professional artist desk

    I’m not just an illustrator. I’m a collaborator who understands readability, icon systems, and production constraints. Whether you’re crowdfunding or pitching to a publisher, your game will look professional, intentional, and market-ready.

  • a beautiful selection of sketchbooks being reviewed by a professional artist and designer

    I use Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and physical mockup tools. You’ll also get print-ready templates, art files organized for manufacturing, and — if needed — art direction guidance for scaling into expansion packs or future editions.

artist in studio

Real Collaboration. Real Results.

I work with you, not just for you. Most of my clients become collaborators—some become friends. You’ll get regular check-ins, feedback loops, and an art pipeline that’s structured without being rigid.

Creative work thrives in conversation. Whether you’re a first-time creator or a seasoned publisher, I make the process smooth, collaborative, and way more fun than you'd expect.

  • I have an idea for a board game, but I’m not a game designer — can we still work together?

    Absolutely. Many of my clients are entrepreneurs, writers, or publishers with a vision but no design background. I help shape your idea visually from the ground up, guiding style, tone, and clarity every step of the way.

  • Can your artwork be used for Kickstarter, Gamefound, or other crowdfunding campaigns?

    Yes — and it often is. I tailor the art for marketing, hero pieces, and visual storytelling. You’ll walk away with high-impact visuals made to grab attention and generate backers.

  • What do I get with this service?

    You get a full breakdown of the concepting process: sketches, illustrations, asset variations, collaborative boards (Miro or similar), and optional video explainers. If needed, I’ll also recommend other professionals — writers, developers, or manufacturers — to take it further.

  • What if I only need the character art / environment / box art?

    Totally doable. Whether you’re looking for one killer illustration or full IP development with art direction, I adapt to the scale. Some clients just need marketing art, others want full card sets — I’ve done both.

  • I’m not sure about my budget — is there flexibility?

    Yes. I’ve worked on profit-sharing deals, reduced scopes, and adjusted deliverables to match a client’s runway. If we’re aligned in vision, I’ll find a way to help bring your game to life.

  • What genres or themes do you specialize in?

    While I’ve worked across sci-fi, fantasy, historical, horror, and whimsical genres, the common thread is storytelling. I dig into your world’s logic, setting, and audience before a single line is drawn.

  • Can this help me secure funding or a publishing deal?

    Yes — several of my clients have used the art we created together to pitch to publishers, investors, and even production studios. A strong visual pitch makes all the difference.

tribal character design render

Ready to build a world players won’t forget?


Let’s talk about your board game.