Clayton
@explorersdesign.bsky.social
Pronunciation: "Klay-tun Note-Styne" Designer. Writer. Educator. Tabletop games. Explorers Design. Pro-union and cooperatives. He/Him.
By the time I finally have an article, the thumbnails are the relaxing part. I get a lot of joy out of depicting the article in as few pieces as possible. The goal is to use my brand colors for >50% articles.
Sometimes the images are literal. Sometimes they're metaphorical. A few of my favorites:
Sometimes the images are literal. Sometimes they're metaphorical. A few of my favorites:
January 13, 2026 at 9:07 PM
By the time I finally have an article, the thumbnails are the relaxing part. I get a lot of joy out of depicting the article in as few pieces as possible. The goal is to use my brand colors for >50% articles.
Sometimes the images are literal. Sometimes they're metaphorical. A few of my favorites:
Sometimes the images are literal. Sometimes they're metaphorical. A few of my favorites:
Reminds me of this old classic.
December 23, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reminds me of this old classic.
Making some roughs today between day job projects. That means no downloading fonts or trying to make the paper texture on this thing look real.
What are good names for a classic Murder Mystery game? Daggerbacks? Murder Mystery Theater? Murder?
What are good names for a classic Murder Mystery game? Daggerbacks? Murder Mystery Theater? Murder?
December 18, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Making some roughs today between day job projects. That means no downloading fonts or trying to make the paper texture on this thing look real.
What are good names for a classic Murder Mystery game? Daggerbacks? Murder Mystery Theater? Murder?
What are good names for a classic Murder Mystery game? Daggerbacks? Murder Mystery Theater? Murder?
The illustrations even include a self-insert. Thanks for reposting! I learn as much writing them as others do reading them. My blog is basically my notes.
December 16, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The illustrations even include a self-insert. Thanks for reposting! I learn as much writing them as others do reading them. My blog is basically my notes.
I wish I could change the spacing more on my blog more so that the image pairing is more obvious.
December 16, 2025 at 3:20 PM
I wish I could change the spacing more on my blog more so that the image pairing is more obvious.
Here's the episode summary in pictures. Should clear some things up:
November 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Here's the episode summary in pictures. Should clear some things up:
Can't stop thinking about how Saul Bass, the famous graphic designer and artist, signed his name.
October 23, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Can't stop thinking about how Saul Bass, the famous graphic designer and artist, signed his name.
I'm working on an article that outlines my personal tastes in rpg design—mostly to pick them apart—and I'm tempted to model it after Dieter Rams' 10 Principles of Good Design.
If you don't know who Rams is, he's an industrial designer. His list is tailored to that industry. I'd tailor mine to rpgs.
If you don't know who Rams is, he's an industrial designer. His list is tailored to that industry. I'd tailor mine to rpgs.
October 20, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I'm working on an article that outlines my personal tastes in rpg design—mostly to pick them apart—and I'm tempted to model it after Dieter Rams' 10 Principles of Good Design.
If you don't know who Rams is, he's an industrial designer. His list is tailored to that industry. I'd tailor mine to rpgs.
If you don't know who Rams is, he's an industrial designer. His list is tailored to that industry. I'd tailor mine to rpgs.
Brad turned to the nearest stranger and did this after tapping send.
October 10, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Brad turned to the nearest stranger and did this after tapping send.
The challenge with writing about awards is that it's complicated and contentious. Even if it weren't the Ennies and instead was Origins, Crit, etc.
My goal for this series is to illuminate what's already out there. Inform the discourse. Award shows are here to stay, so what do we want out of them?
My goal for this series is to illuminate what's already out there. Inform the discourse. Award shows are here to stay, so what do we want out of them?
October 6, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The challenge with writing about awards is that it's complicated and contentious. Even if it weren't the Ennies and instead was Origins, Crit, etc.
My goal for this series is to illuminate what's already out there. Inform the discourse. Award shows are here to stay, so what do we want out of them?
My goal for this series is to illuminate what's already out there. Inform the discourse. Award shows are here to stay, so what do we want out of them?
What I love most about rpgs is that it's hard, maybe impossible, to remove the sincerity.
Designers can keep one foot outside, hide behind sarcasm, or try to professionalize or optimize it as something else—but it will always be playing pretend.
And I like the work that knows that's a feature.
Designers can keep one foot outside, hide behind sarcasm, or try to professionalize or optimize it as something else—but it will always be playing pretend.
And I like the work that knows that's a feature.
October 2, 2025 at 10:16 PM
What I love most about rpgs is that it's hard, maybe impossible, to remove the sincerity.
Designers can keep one foot outside, hide behind sarcasm, or try to professionalize or optimize it as something else—but it will always be playing pretend.
And I like the work that knows that's a feature.
Designers can keep one foot outside, hide behind sarcasm, or try to professionalize or optimize it as something else—but it will always be playing pretend.
And I like the work that knows that's a feature.
I’m at the ENNIES Booth 114 until 3. Stop by. Find out what I look like. Ask me about these cool games.
August 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I’m at the ENNIES Booth 114 until 3. Stop by. Find out what I look like. Ask me about these cool games.
It was a lot of fun making this cover. Especially because I got to do the classic pulp cover thing for the actual pdf by making Amanda P.'s name bigger than the actual title.
July 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
It was a lot of fun making this cover. Especially because I got to do the classic pulp cover thing for the actual pdf by making Amanda P.'s name bigger than the actual title.
Thanks Ryan! I still haven't had a chance to download your submission and check it out, but that cover is 👌
Now that I'm not staring at a preflight panel I can actually enjoy the other jam submissions.
For anyone curious: outrider-creative.itch.io/curs-of-the-...
Now that I'm not staring at a preflight panel I can actually enjoy the other jam submissions.
For anyone curious: outrider-creative.itch.io/curs-of-the-...
July 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Thanks Ryan! I still haven't had a chance to download your submission and check it out, but that cover is 👌
Now that I'm not staring at a preflight panel I can actually enjoy the other jam submissions.
For anyone curious: outrider-creative.itch.io/curs-of-the-...
Now that I'm not staring at a preflight panel I can actually enjoy the other jam submissions.
For anyone curious: outrider-creative.itch.io/curs-of-the-...
I'm labeling it "early access" because I plan on expanding this adventure after the jam. Not too much, just enough to make it easier to run for the GM and make it more accessible than it already is.
Compatible with Cairn 2E.
Still reading this? Here's what's inside this two-page micro adventure:
Compatible with Cairn 2E.
Still reading this? Here's what's inside this two-page micro adventure:
July 23, 2025 at 2:24 PM
I'm labeling it "early access" because I plan on expanding this adventure after the jam. Not too much, just enough to make it easier to run for the GM and make it more accessible than it already is.
Compatible with Cairn 2E.
Still reading this? Here's what's inside this two-page micro adventure:
Compatible with Cairn 2E.
Still reading this? Here's what's inside this two-page micro adventure:
ENNIES voting has begun, so let's get the word out. What nominees, publishers, or judges do you want others to vote for? Sound off with some quote-posts and comments.
vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2025/
vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2025/
July 11, 2025 at 5:56 PM
ENNIES voting has begun, so let's get the word out. What nominees, publishers, or judges do you want others to vote for? Sound off with some quote-posts and comments.
vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2025/
vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2025/
Design finds and primes audiences with certain expectations and tolerances.
My takeaway in this latest design delve is that micro-adventures are often imperfect, but I'm more likely to tolerate their shortcoming, because they're easy to fix.
The shorter the adventure, the more slack you get.
My takeaway in this latest design delve is that micro-adventures are often imperfect, but I'm more likely to tolerate their shortcoming, because they're easy to fix.
The shorter the adventure, the more slack you get.
May 20, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Design finds and primes audiences with certain expectations and tolerances.
My takeaway in this latest design delve is that micro-adventures are often imperfect, but I'm more likely to tolerate their shortcoming, because they're easy to fix.
The shorter the adventure, the more slack you get.
My takeaway in this latest design delve is that micro-adventures are often imperfect, but I'm more likely to tolerate their shortcoming, because they're easy to fix.
The shorter the adventure, the more slack you get.
The thing that got me interested about The Royal Art Gallery Heist was this inherent tension in the work.
It is short and dense like most micro adventures, but it's laid out with type and graphics that are orderly, spacious, and clean.
This makes it a visual outlier within the form factor.
It is short and dense like most micro adventures, but it's laid out with type and graphics that are orderly, spacious, and clean.
This makes it a visual outlier within the form factor.
May 20, 2025 at 9:48 PM
The thing that got me interested about The Royal Art Gallery Heist was this inherent tension in the work.
It is short and dense like most micro adventures, but it's laid out with type and graphics that are orderly, spacious, and clean.
This makes it a visual outlier within the form factor.
It is short and dense like most micro adventures, but it's laid out with type and graphics that are orderly, spacious, and clean.
This makes it a visual outlier within the form factor.
After leaving Twitter (and doing quite a few design delves), I've gotten less interested in rehashing the "building blocks" of a game's design in favor of more conceptual analysis.
Right now, design delves have three acts: the delve (analysis), the lore (design background), and loot (lessons).
Right now, design delves have three acts: the delve (analysis), the lore (design background), and loot (lessons).
May 20, 2025 at 9:48 PM
After leaving Twitter (and doing quite a few design delves), I've gotten less interested in rehashing the "building blocks" of a game's design in favor of more conceptual analysis.
Right now, design delves have three acts: the delve (analysis), the lore (design background), and loot (lessons).
Right now, design delves have three acts: the delve (analysis), the lore (design background), and loot (lessons).
When I was on Twitter, I used to breakdown games into their visual design components. Things like format (page size), typefaces (fonts), art, and layout.
I still do a bit of that. Especially in this delve. Royal uses some iconic fonts to give itself a real bold but clean look that's approachable.
I still do a bit of that. Especially in this delve. Royal uses some iconic fonts to give itself a real bold but clean look that's approachable.
May 20, 2025 at 9:48 PM
When I was on Twitter, I used to breakdown games into their visual design components. Things like format (page size), typefaces (fonts), art, and layout.
I still do a bit of that. Especially in this delve. Royal uses some iconic fonts to give itself a real bold but clean look that's approachable.
I still do a bit of that. Especially in this delve. Royal uses some iconic fonts to give itself a real bold but clean look that's approachable.
Are design delves reviews? No. I would describe them as explorations. Less "Is this worth buying?" and more "What do these design decisions show?"
In the end, they're an excuse to exercise curiosity, learn, and frankly just fawn over good-looking and fun-to-read games.
Speaking of which...
In the end, they're an excuse to exercise curiosity, learn, and frankly just fawn over good-looking and fun-to-read games.
Speaking of which...
May 20, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Are design delves reviews? No. I would describe them as explorations. Less "Is this worth buying?" and more "What do these design decisions show?"
In the end, they're an excuse to exercise curiosity, learn, and frankly just fawn over good-looking and fun-to-read games.
Speaking of which...
In the end, they're an excuse to exercise curiosity, learn, and frankly just fawn over good-looking and fun-to-read games.
Speaking of which...
This is a trial run of a new Design Delves structure. There's the overview and main topic for analysis (the delve), a shallow dive into design concepts (design lore), and a quick parade of educational takeaways (design loot).
This delve is all about riso and how Arlin and Kris' work shows it off.
This delve is all about riso and how Arlin and Kris' work shows it off.
May 6, 2025 at 2:14 PM
This is a trial run of a new Design Delves structure. There's the overview and main topic for analysis (the delve), a shallow dive into design concepts (design lore), and a quick parade of educational takeaways (design loot).
This delve is all about riso and how Arlin and Kris' work shows it off.
This delve is all about riso and how Arlin and Kris' work shows it off.
Beetle from Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for reference.
This is me coming to your RSS reader and inbox every month, except I'm pale as hell, and I'm selling significantly fewer bugs and oozes (but not zero).
This is me coming to your RSS reader and inbox every month, except I'm pale as hell, and I'm selling significantly fewer bugs and oozes (but not zero).
May 1, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Beetle from Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for reference.
This is me coming to your RSS reader and inbox every month, except I'm pale as hell, and I'm selling significantly fewer bugs and oozes (but not zero).
This is me coming to your RSS reader and inbox every month, except I'm pale as hell, and I'm selling significantly fewer bugs and oozes (but not zero).
But the important thing with blogging, designing, and just making stuff in general is to not be precious. The more you make the better you get at it.
These are some of the thumbnails that didn't end up how I wanted but got published anyway.
These are some of the thumbnails that didn't end up how I wanted but got published anyway.
April 24, 2025 at 2:27 PM
But the important thing with blogging, designing, and just making stuff in general is to not be precious. The more you make the better you get at it.
These are some of the thumbnails that didn't end up how I wanted but got published anyway.
These are some of the thumbnails that didn't end up how I wanted but got published anyway.