Frank Marquart
Art Director / Art Outsourcing Manager
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Saints Row: The Saints

I was Art Director on Saints Row (2022) and was responsible for developing the high level art direction for the game including the world of the Saints.

I had the opportunity to work with some amazingly talented Associate Art Directors, Art Leads, and artists, both internal and external, to develop the concepts and ideas below to define and describe the world of the Saints.

Check out my GDC 2023 presentation "The Art Direction of Saints Row" for an overview of the style of the game. It's available in the GDC Vault!
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1029337/The-Art-Direction-of-Saints

The story of Saints Row follows a group of friends who decide to create their own criminal empire. To describe the visual style of their empire, we used the keyword 'Modern Baroque'. The high level art direction for the Faction are the big elements that help visually unite them while also helping them stand apart from other factions, independent of themes.

Saints Faction Brand
1. Color - Purple, Grey, and Turquoise accents
2. Shapes - S-Curve against clean rectilinear shapes
3. Metal - Silver (and Gold at the highest level)
4. Element - Light Rays

Factions promote one primary color that is used in exclusively for the game. This helps the Faction stand out and be immediately recognized as well as provide an opportunity for the Faction to have a high visual priority on screen. For the Saints the primary color is Purple. The accent color is Turquoise, the color of the Southwest for the game.

Screenshot of the new crew of Saints. Kevin, the Boss, Eli, and Neenah. They are a group of friend who decided to band together and form their own criminal empire.

Screenshot of the new crew of Saints. Kevin, the Boss, Eli, and Neenah. They are a group of friend who decided to band together and form their own criminal empire.

Saints color palette. The turquiose accent represents their connection to the southwest. We used turquoise in a variety of elements that were Santo Ileso based.

Saints color palette. The turquiose accent represents their connection to the southwest. We used turquoise in a variety of elements that were Santo Ileso based.

The new default Boss concepts, showing her pre-Saints look and her final Saints look. The turquoise hoodie is her Pre-Saints look and our signature color forthe Southwest. Concept by Sperasoft and James Holland.

The new default Boss concepts, showing her pre-Saints look and her final Saints look. The turquoise hoodie is her Pre-Saints look and our signature color forthe Southwest. Concept by Sperasoft and James Holland.

For the Saints, we developed our own filigree look and applied it all across Saints assets from characters, buildings, weapons, and vehicles. The filligree is a key ingredient in the Saints style - Modern Baroque. Filligree by Sperasoft.

For the Saints, we developed our own filigree look and applied it all across Saints assets from characters, buildings, weapons, and vehicles. The filligree is a key ingredient in the Saints style - Modern Baroque. Filligree by Sperasoft.

The Saints build their own themed ventures late in the game. Shown here is the Saints Tower and Planet Saints concept by Josh Norman. They combine sleek modern elements with decorative filigree and Saints iconography with splashes of purple.

The Saints build their own themed ventures late in the game. Shown here is the Saints Tower and Planet Saints concept by Josh Norman. They combine sleek modern elements with decorative filigree and Saints iconography with splashes of purple.

Screenshot of the entrance to Planet Saints. Note the statue lintel on the left. That's an easter egg from the character used to help promote Saints Row 2.

Screenshot of the entrance to Planet Saints. Note the statue lintel on the left. That's an easter egg from the character used to help promote Saints Row 2.

My notes and reference when designing the building.

My notes and reference when designing the building.

Various direction images for the Saints Tower by Sperasoft.

Various direction images for the Saints Tower by Sperasoft.

Concept showing the Modern Baroque Saints style applied to a couch. This couch is a centerpiece in Planet Saints. Concept by Sperasoft.

Concept showing the Modern Baroque Saints style applied to a couch. This couch is a centerpiece in Planet Saints. Concept by Sperasoft.

Saints Modern Baroque filigree applied to a themed sports car.

Saints Modern Baroque filigree applied to a themed sports car.

Saints Modern Baroque filigree applied to a themed sports car - back view.

Saints Modern Baroque filigree applied to a themed sports car - back view.

Concept of the dilapidated church the Saints find and decide to call their home and base of operations. The base church architecture is a mash up and reinvention of a couple of different Southwest churches. Concept by Sperasoft.

Concept of the dilapidated church the Saints find and decide to call their home and base of operations. The base church architecture is a mash up and reinvention of a couple of different Southwest churches. Concept by Sperasoft.

Clip from a Saints Row cinematic where the Friends discover and old abandoned church and take it over as their headquarters.

Concept of the final Saints HQ look. The upgraded Saints HQ follows the sustainability trend in architecture, where old buildings are preserved and upgraded into new, modern residences. Concept by Sperasoft.

Concept of the final Saints HQ look. The upgraded Saints HQ follows the sustainability trend in architecture, where old buildings are preserved and upgraded into new, modern residences. Concept by Sperasoft.

The 'Saint of Saints' has been with the franchise since Saints Row 2. Here, we were imagining how the new Saint of Saints came to be. The Friends find an old statue in the church and begin to transform it by adding a gun and a devil's tail. Sperasoft.

The 'Saint of Saints' has been with the franchise since Saints Row 2. Here, we were imagining how the new Saint of Saints came to be. The Friends find an old statue in the church and begin to transform it by adding a gun and a devil's tail. Sperasoft.

My Art Direction sketches and notes for the original statue. The statue changes two more times to reflect the Saints upgrading their HQ.

My Art Direction sketches and notes for the original statue. The statue changes two more times to reflect the Saints upgrading their HQ.

My Art Direction sketches and notes for the second tier statue. In this phase of the HQ, its under construction, as the Saints build out their base.

My Art Direction sketches and notes for the second tier statue. In this phase of the HQ, its under construction, as the Saints build out their base.

In the final HQ, they've created their custom Saint of Saints that looks over the 'war table' - a place where the player can expand their empire by building new criminal ventures.

In the final HQ, they've created their custom Saint of Saints that looks over the 'war table' - a place where the player can expand their empire by building new criminal ventures.

Concept to define the look of the final Saints War Table room. The Saint of Saints watches over the War Table. Concept by Sperasoft.

Concept to define the look of the final Saints War Table room. The Saint of Saints watches over the War Table. Concept by Sperasoft.

My Art Direction sketches and notes for the final upgraded version of the Saints HQ War Table room.

My Art Direction sketches and notes for the final upgraded version of the Saints HQ War Table room.

My additional notes and sketches from the War Table area.

My additional notes and sketches from the War Table area.

Saint of Saints mural by James Holland. Here's our updated take on the Saint of Saints with her golden halo, guns, and tail.

Saint of Saints mural by James Holland. Here's our updated take on the Saint of Saints with her golden halo, guns, and tail.

Concepts to define the final upgrade level of the Saints main interior. Goal is to follow the sustainability trend in architecture where we mix elements of the old with new, modern furnishings and lighting. By Sperasoft.

Concepts to define the final upgrade level of the Saints main interior. Goal is to follow the sustainability trend in architecture where we mix elements of the old with new, modern furnishings and lighting. By Sperasoft.

Concepts to define the base church design. I looked at southwestern churches and adapted and transformed designs to make it the church feel like it was destined to be the home of the Saints. The Saints adopt the fleur de lis in the church. By Sperasoft.

Concepts to define the base church design. I looked at southwestern churches and adapted and transformed designs to make it the church feel like it was destined to be the home of the Saints. The Saints adopt the fleur de lis in the church. By Sperasoft.

Saints wallpaper created by the Brand team.

Saints wallpaper created by the Brand team.

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