Eightball is a Berlin-based gaming startup developing immersive, browser-based multiplayer games that blend nostalgia with modern design.
Company
Adidas Originals × Solebox
Timeline
2022
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Role
3D Production, Digital Fashion
Project overview
Eightball set out to revive the charm of old-school arcade culture but for a new generation of players who expect seamless multiplayer, responsive design, and social integration. They wanted a platform that not only hosted their games but also fostered community—leaderboards, chat, and friend systems included. Elliot’s role was to design a UI that balanced playfulness with usability, ensuring the platform felt like a modern social hub while still evoking the raw, neon-drenched vibe of arcade nostalgia. The end goal wasn’t just functionality but creating an experience that made users want to hang around even when they weren’t actively playing.
Challenges
The two tracksuits existed only as raw cut-pattern photos and loose material references — so I rebuilt them from the ground up. Every panel was reconstructed in 3D straight from the flat patterns, every fabric built out from photo reference until the weave, the mesh and the drape behaved like the real thing. It's the part nobody sees, and it's exactly where the whole illusion is won or lost. Get the material wrong and the render dies; get it right and it breathes.
Results
The final platform delivered exactly what Eightball needed: a high-energy, visually striking environment that still felt intuitive and modern. Players could jump into matches in seconds, check their stats, and interact with others in a lively, responsive interface. Motion elements and interactive micro-transitions brought personality without slowing performance, helping the brand stand out in a crowded indie gaming market. Post-launch, user retention rates exceeded projections, and Eightball successfully built an active community around its games. The project demonstrated how thoughtful design can bridge nostalgia and innovation to create something fresh and engaging.
Project overview
Eightball set out to revive the charm of old-school arcade culture but for a new generation of players who expect seamless multiplayer, responsive design, and social integration. They wanted a platform that not only hosted their games but also fostered community—leaderboards, chat, and friend systems included. Elliot’s role was to design a UI that balanced playfulness with usability, ensuring the platform felt like a modern social hub while still evoking the raw, neon-drenched vibe of arcade nostalgia. The end goal wasn’t just functionality but creating an experience that made users want to hang around even when they weren’t actively playing.
Challenges
The two tracksuits existed only as raw cut-pattern photos and loose material references — so I rebuilt them from the ground up. Every panel was reconstructed in 3D straight from the flat patterns, every fabric built out from photo reference until the weave, the mesh and the drape behaved like the real thing. It's the part nobody sees, and it's exactly where the whole illusion is won or lost. Get the material wrong and the render dies; get it right and it breathes.
Further Information
Further Information 2
Further Information 3
Further Information 4
Work in Progress
Work in Progress II
Results
The final platform delivered exactly what Eightball needed: a high-energy, visually striking environment that still felt intuitive and modern. Players could jump into matches in seconds, check their stats, and interact with others in a lively, responsive interface. Motion elements and interactive micro-transitions brought personality without slowing performance, helping the brand stand out in a crowded indie gaming market. Post-launch, user retention rates exceeded projections, and Eightball successfully built an active community around its games. The project demonstrated how thoughtful design can bridge nostalgia and innovation to create something fresh and engaging.
