UI/UX Designer Needed for Fictional Desktop OS & Apps in Godot Hacker Simulation

We are developing **Nightshade Protocol**, a PC hacker simulation game built in Godot, and are looking for a talented UI/UX designer to create the polished visual design system for the game's fictional desktop operating system, **Nexus**.

Most of the game is played through Nexus. Players use a desktop, open movable/resizable application windows, manage files and credentials, read email, monitor their computer, browse a fictional internet, manage money, accept contracts, and use hacking/investigation tools.

The underlying game systems and application functionality are already being developed. We are primarily looking for someone to create the **visual/UI design and reusable component system**, not to program the gameplay.

We want Nexus to feel like a believable modern computer operating system with its own strong identity. We are not looking for an exaggerated neon sci-fi HUD. Readability, realism, usability, and consistency are important.

### What we need designed

The project includes:

- Nexus desktop and taskbar
- reusable resizable application-window design
- common UI component library: buttons, inputs, tabs, menus, dialogs, scrollbars, cards, tables, toggles, sliders, notifications, states, etc.
- cohesive application icon family based on existing concept art
- layouts/visual direction for approximately 15 Nexus applications
- major apps including a file manager, email client, banking app, hacking/network tool, intelligence tool, credential vault, system monitor, organization/job-board app, and web browser
- smaller apps including settings/control, media player, calendar, calculator, recycle bin, and related utilities
- **Skylink**, our fictional web browser, including tabs, address/search bar, browser history, bookmarks, downloads, error pages, search results, and a dynamic homepage
- a reusable fictional website design system used to procedurally assemble many in-game company websites
- approximately 10–15 reusable website layout families/templates or equivalent modular variations
- reusable news/publication layouts
- reusable business-directory layouts

The website portion is important: **we are NOT asking you to individually design hundreds of fictional websites.** We need a modular component/template system that our game can populate dynamically with different company names, branding, text, images, people, and content.

### Important technical requirements

The game is built in **Godot**.

You do not need to implement the UI in Godot unless you would like to quote that separately. We will handle engine implementation.

However, the designs must be practical for implementation in a game engine:

- application windows are movable and resizable
- UI elements should be reusable rather than flattened into screenshots
- scalable/9-slice assets should be used where appropriate
- text should remain live text rather than being baked into images
- vector assets are preferred where practical
- component interaction states should be clearly defined
- simulated websites must adapt to different browser-window sizes
- colors and styling should be reusable/themeable where practical

### Preferred deliverables

We prefer **Figma** for the editable source design, although we are open to another professional editable format if discussed in advance.

Final handoff should include:

- organized editable source file
- reusable components and variants
- color, typography, spacing, and sizing specifications
- interaction states such as default, hover, pressed, selected, disabled, warning, and error where applicable
- responsive/resizing examples
- export-ready SVG/vector assets where appropriate
- PNG/WebP assets where raster artwork is required
- scalable/9-slice assets where appropriate
- final application icons at agreed sizes
- clear naming and organization for implementation

### What we already have

You will not be starting from a blank page.

We already have:

- established game/Nexus direction
- detailed specifications for the applications
- application architecture and behavior
- concept designs for many application icons
- working game functionality and window-management systems
- clear requirements for the fictional browser/web system
- development/programming support on our side

We want the selected designer to help turn that foundation into a cohesive, professional interface.

### Style direction

We are looking for something that feels:

- modern
- believable
- polished
- professional
- slightly distinctive/futuristic without becoming a sci-fi HUD
- information-dense when needed but still readable
- consistent across many different applications

Think **a real operating system designed for the Nightshade universe**, not a collection of unrelated game menus.

### Ideal experience

Experience with any of the following is a plus:

- desktop software UI/UX
- operating-system-style interfaces
- game UI
- Figma component systems/design systems
- resizable desktop application layouts
- Godot UI or game-engine UI constraints
- dashboards/data-heavy interfaces
- browser/web design systems
- modular/procedural UI design

Direct Godot experience is helpful but **not required** if you understand how to design reusable, scalable UI assets for implementation by another developer.

### When applying, please include

1. Examples of relevant UI/UX work, especially desktop software, game interfaces, dashboards, operating-system concepts, or browser-style interfaces.
2. Your estimated price or price range for the project.
3. Your estimated timeline.
4. Whether your quote includes the editable source files and export-ready assets.
5. Whether you are comfortable creating a reusable component/design system rather than only static mockups.
6. Whether you have experience designing UI for Godot or another game engine.
7. Whether you would prefer milestone-based delivery and how you would divide the milestones.

Please begin your proposal with the word **NEXUS** so we know you read the project description rather than sending an automated generic bid.

### Project documentation

A detailed internal UI requirements document is available and will be provided to serious candidates. It includes the complete component checklist, application breakdown, browser requirements, simulated website system, technical handoff requirements, suggested milestones, and acceptance criteria.

We are happy to answer questions before finalizing scope and price.

## Suggested Freelancer skills/tags

- UI Design
- UX / User Experience
- Figma
- Game UI
- Graphic Design
- User Interface / IA
- Icon Design
- Godot Engine (optional/preferred, not mandatory)

## Suggested hiring approach

Do not award based only on the lowest bid. Shortlist candidates whose portfolios demonstrate strong **systems thinking** and reusable UI work, then provide `UI_DESIGNER_REQUIREMENTS.md` before requesting a final fixed-price quote.

A milestone-based contract is preferable so the Nexus visual direction and component system can be approved before the designer produces every application and simulated-web template.