Experience Set Design

The Battle of Xu Qua" was an immersive Dungeons & Dragons-themed escape room that transported players into a mythical quest across the enchanted realm of Xu Qua. As teams progressed through intricately designed chambers, they uncovered ancient mysteries and gathered crucial artifacts, all building toward an epic final confrontation with a fearsome dragon. As Art Director, I collaborated closely with the CEO and game masters to bring this fantasy world to life. My artistic direction shaped everything from the weathered stone textures of dungeon walls to the gleaming dragon's hoard, ensuring every visual element enhanced players' sense of adventure.

*Disclaimer: Due to NDAs and player satisfaction, I am not able to showcase everything in the experience as it also does disrupt original experiences.
The players' adventure begins in the waiting room, where they encounter their first clue. As they enter the wisteria tree, a detailed map of Telestia comes into view, while a group of fairies emerges to welcome them to this enchanted realm.

The hooded figure at the entrance, dressed in a long black cloak, acted as a gatekeeper or guide, reinforcing the theme of mystery and magic. The lantern they held provided a warm, flickering glow, contrasting with the cold, supernatural atmosphere.

This design was created to make the players feel like they were entering a sacred domain, solve ancient puzzles, and uncover hidden secrets. The eerie lighting, mystical symbols, and overall ambiance created suspense, making players feel like they had stepped into an otherworldly adventure, where magic and danger lurked in the shadows.
This sarcophagus was designed to illuminate and speak to players upon completing quests in the room. I led a team of five people, teaching them techniques for manipulating clay and foam to create our vision.

We began by crafting a coffin-shaped structure as a light base, covering it with sprayable foam which we sanded down to achieve a smooth texture before attaching our sculptural elements.The faces on the sarcophagus were created from basic masks that we modified with various expressions and features.

Each component was individually painted using either acrylic or spray paint to achieve the desired effect. We applied finishing techniques that gave the pieces an aged, authentic appearance consistent with ancient Egyptian artifacts.We carved symbolic hieroglyphics and markings throughout the surface, adding both visual interest and authenticity to the design.

The finished sarcophagus incorporated LED lighting and a speaker system, allowing it to glow and speak when triggered by players' quest completion. This interactive element transformed a simple prop into an engaging gameplay feature that enhanced the overall experience and rewarded players for their achievements.