The Challenge
Marbles on Stream branding reproduced for portfolio purposes. Copyright © Pixel by Pixel Studios
Pixel by Pixel Studios, the game development company behind interactive livestream titles including Marbles on Stream, wanted to create a recurring live programme to keep its community informed about news, competitions, leagues, leaderboards and upcoming events.
The programme needed a recognisable visual identity that extended beyond a logo.
Unlike a traditional studio broadcast, presenters would be broadcasting remotely from different locations using OBS, software used to produce and stream live video, on independent computers. The challenge was to create a broadcast identity and production environment that appeared as a single, professional programme regardless of who was presenting.
As the programme evolved, the identity also needed to accommodate new segments, layouts and branding without requiring the entire system to be rebuilt.
Context
The Byte was a recurring live programme produced by Pixel by Pixel Studios, broadcast on Twitch and later published in full on YouTube. The programme combined community news, interviews, live demonstrations and audience interaction, keeping players informed about competitions, leagues, leaderboards and upcoming events across the studio's games.
Unlike a traditional studio production, presenters broadcast remotely using independent installations of OBS, live streaming and broadcast production software. Although physically separated, they needed to appear as part of a single, professional programme.
As the programme developed, new segments, layouts and recurring features were introduced. The visual identity therefore needed to extend beyond a logo, supporting an expanding broadcast while remaining recognisable to the community.
Constraints
Live production Every graphic, transition and scene had to operate reliably in a live environment, where technical issues would be immediately visible to the audience.
Implementation The broadcast environment had to be documented and reproducible so it could be implemented consistently across multiple presenters' independent OBS installations.
Consistency The Byte needed its own recognisable identity while remaining visually connected to the established Pixel by Pixel Studios brand through its colours, visual language and overall style.
Flexibility The studio required multiple interchangeable layouts that could be switched instantly during live broadcasts while maintaining a consistent viewing experience.
Distributed production Each presenter operated from a separate location using their own OBS installation, requiring the broadcast environment to be recreated independently while appearing identical to viewers.
Scalability The broadcast package needed to support future programme segments, branding updates and new assets without requiring the entire production system to be rebuilt.
Design Strategy
Rather than creating a fixed collection of broadcast assets, I approached The Byte as a design system capable of evolving alongside the programme. This ensured the visual identity could respond to evolving production requirements without compromising consistency or requiring fundamental redesign.
Development began with establishing a visual identity that reflected the existing Pixel by Pixel Studios brand while giving The Byte its own recognisable personality. Early concepts were shared with the production team, allowing ideas to evolve through discussion and iterative feedback rather than being treated as fixed designs.
The virtual studio and broadcast assets were refined through rapid prototyping. Alternative layouts, materials, colour palettes and environmental details were tested in context, revealing how small visual changes could significantly influence the realism, readability and overall presentation of the programme during live broadcasts. Where existing techniques proved insufficient, I researched and developed new approaches, including the custom digital glitch effect used within the programme's visual identity.
Alongside the visual design, I produced illustrated implementation guides that documented OBS scene construction, filters and layering techniques. These guides translated complex production setups into repeatable workflows, enabling presenters working on independent systems to recreate the broadcast consistently.
As The Byte entered production, the design continued to evolve through live use. Regular broadcasts provided opportunities to evaluate layouts, graphics and workflows in their intended environment, ensuring the broadcast identity remained effective as the programme's content and requirements developed
Design Process
The project began by establishing a visual identity that complemented the existing Pixel by Pixel Studios brand while giving The Byte its own recognisable personality. Early concepts were shared with the production team and refined collaboratively, allowing ideas to evolve in response to discussion rather than being treated as fixed designs.
Development then moved into a cycle of rapid prototyping. Studio layouts, desk materials, colour palettes, wall treatments and motion graphics were tested in context before being evaluated and refined. This iterative approach revealed how seemingly small changes could significantly affect the realism and readability of the virtual studio during live broadcasts.
Where existing techniques did not achieve the desired result, I researched and developed new approaches, including the custom digital glitch effect used within the programme's final logo animation.
As the programme entered production, the branding and studio continued to evolve through live use and collaborative feedback. Testing designs in real broadcasts helped identify practical improvements that would have been difficult to anticipate in isolation, resulting in a production system that became more robust over time.
The Solution
The completed solution delivered cohesive broadcast identity that extended beyond a logo to form a complete production system. The final deliverables included programme branding, motion graphics, animated transitions, a virtual studio environment and reusable broadcast layouts that presenters could recreate independently.
Together, these assets supported discussions, interviews, demonstrations and media playback within a consistent visual identity, providing a professional broadcast experience throughout the programme's production.
If I were rebuilding The Byte today, I would place even greater emphasis on documentation and design systems from the outset. Although these developed naturally as the project evolved, defining reusable components, naming conventions and implementation guidance earlier would have simplified collaboration and made future expansion even more efficient.
"A successful design system isn't one that's complete. It's one that can adapt without losing its identity."
Impact
The broadcast identity remained in use throughout the lifetime of The Byte, supporting 54 live episodes between 26 May 2022 and 20 July 2023. Over that period, the visual system accommodated new programme segments, themed broadcasts and ongoing refinements while maintaining a recognisable identity.
Documentation and reusable scenes reduced setup time for presenters and made the broadcast easier to reproduce consistently.
By providing a reusable production package, the project reduced the effort required to introduce new content and supported consistent broadcasts across multiple independent presenter setups. The visual identity accommodated themed broadcasts and evolving programme formats while remaining recognisably The Byte. The result was a production system that remained effective throughout the programme's entire run without requiring a fundamental redesign.
Design Artefacts
Looking Ahead
The Byte marked a shift in my approach to design. What began as a branding project quickly became an exercise in designing an entire production system, where visual identity, motion graphics and broadcast workflows all needed to work together. It reinforced the importance of designing assets as part of a wider system, considering how they would be implemented, maintained and adapted over time.
Working collaboratively also highlighted the value of rapid iteration. Sharing ideas early, responding to feedback and testing concepts in a live production environment consistently produced stronger outcomes than aiming for a perfect first version. Many of the project's most successful design decisions emerged through discussion and experimentation rather than the initial concepts alone.
Looking back, the project changed how I approach design problems. Rather than focusing solely on creating individual artefacts, I now place greater emphasis on designing systems that remain effective as requirements evolve. That mindset has continued to influence my work beyond The Byte, shaping the way I approach both creative and technical projects.