How Define Design Pillars?

Design pillars are the north‑star statements that keep every decision aligned with your game’s core promise.

They translate vision into repeatable filters for mechanics, art, UX, narrative, monetization — everything.

1️⃣ What Is a Design Pillar?

A short, actionable phrase that captures an essential quality your game must embody — every moment, every feature.

Pillar Trait	Must Be
Concrete	Not “fun”, but “precision platforming”
Distinct	Speaks to your USP, not any game
Testable	A prototype can prove or break it
End‑to‑End	Guides code, art, marketing, LiveOps

📍A good set is 3–5 pillars. Fewer = vague. More = noise.

2️⃣ Why Pillars Matter

Benefit	Impact
Scope Guard	Kills features that look cool but break focus
Team Alignment	Everyone speaks one design language
Faster Iteration	Decisions tested against pillars, not opinions
Stronger Pitch	Clear story for publishers and players

📍 If a feature doesn’t serve at least one pillar, it’s scope creep.

3️⃣ 5‑Step Pillar Definition Workflow

Step	Action	Output
1 - Vision Sprint	Summarize fantasy, audience, blue‑ocean gap	1‑sentence vision
2 - Core Experience Map	Chart verbs, loop, emotion arc	1‑page diagram
3 - Cluster Themes	Highlight repeating words in vision + map	Keyword groups
4 - Draft Pillars	Turn each cluster into verb + qualifier	4–6 raw pillars
5 - Stress‑Test	Prototype or paper test; cut vague ones	Final 3–5 pillars

4️⃣ Pillars in the Wild

Game	Pillars (public or inferred)	Manifestation
Celeste	"Precision Climb", "Gentle Resilience", "Personal Story"	Tight controls, assist mode, narrative beats
Fortnite	"Instant Spectacle", "Social Chaos", "Infinite Remix"	Snap building, emotes, constant content drops
Monument Valley	"Peaceful Wonder", "Tactile Illusion", "Artbook World"	Escher puzzles, haptics, minimalist story

📍Each feature, UI choice, and marketing asset echoes these pillars.

5️⃣ Common Pitfalls & Fixes

Pitfall	Symptom	Fix
Too Abstract	Team debates meaning of “Immersive”	Add qualifier: “Immersive through environmental audio”
Too Many	Pillars ignored in meetings	Merge overlaps, kill weak ones
Contradictory	“Casual Depth” + “Hardcore Loop”	Define target segment and session length
Static	Pillars from pre‑alpha still guide live game	Reaudit pillars each milestone

↘️

Go deeper with this Celia Wagar’s article

Game Design Pillars: What Are They and How to Practically Apply Them

✅ Pillar Definition Checklist

Does each pillar describe player experience, not internal targets?

Is the wording short enough to fit on one slide (≈ 5–7 words)?

Can QA map a specific test case to it?

Does every core feature clearly serve ≥ 1 pillar?

Do the pillars together express your USP / Blue-Ocean position?

Summary

Question	Answer
What are pillars?	Non‑negotiable experience rules
How many?	Three to five
Who uses them?	Everyone: design, art, code, marketing
When revise?	After vertical slice or major pivot

Design pillars turn vision into align‑or‑cut criteria. They save time, protect fantasy, and make sure the game that ships is the game you pitched.

🧪

Mini-Challenge

Invent a mechanic for a game where the main character is a leaf — or a japan teapot.

Pick a favorite game. Describe it in three pillars.
Now replace one pillar with its opposite (e.g., “Fast Chaos” → “Slow Deliberation”).
List three systems that would have to change.

💡Bonus constraint: Could that become a new blue‑ocean concept?