Jagex Project Zanaris
Empowering Old School RuneScape players to create their own worlds
Key Results
- Successful launch of Closed Beta
- RuneFest 2024 keynote showcase
- OSRS Design System created
- 100% task completion
- 5.6/7 average usability score
Context
As Senior UX Designer at Jagex, I led the complete UX/UI design for Project Zanaris — Old School RuneScape's first user-generated content initiative. Players could create and customize their own OSRS worlds without technical knowledge.
The Challenge
Build a modern design system from scratch for a 20+ year old game while making 100+ configurable rules accessible to players. Deliver a showcase-ready product in just 5 months for RuneFest 2024, OSRS's largest annual event.
Research
Player interviews with active players, lapsed players, and community influencers revealed a critical insight:
Key Discovery: 'Blank Canvas Paralysis'
70% of interview participants said they were intimidated by 'starting from scratch' with world creation. When asked why, responses included:
- I don't know what settings to change
- I'm afraid I'll break something or make it unbalanced
- Too many options — I just want to play with friends
Design Implications
- Never show blank creation screen. Always start with a template to remove decision paralysis.
- We should prioritize common settings like XP/drop/starting loadout presets and make other customization secondary (progressive disclosure).
Personas
Player research revealed three distinct UGC user types with different priorities:
- Small groups wanting private experimental spaces
- Need no-code server creation with presets and gameplay tweaks
- Will drive majority of UGC servers and playtime
- Content consumers exploring alternative modes
- Need strong discovery tools and diverse worlds
- Critical for UGC success and game health
- Streamers and YouTubers creating OSRS content
- Need easy world creation, sharing tools, and monetization
- Drive organic traffic and UGC promotion
Design System
With no existing OSRS web standards or patterns, I created an atomic design-based Figma library for Project Zanaris, establishing the foundation for future OSRS web experiences.
- OSRS-themed colour palette: Based on recent marketing content (retro fantasy aesthetic)
- Custom iconography: Matching in-game OSRS visual style
- Reusable components: Buttons, forms, cards, navigation
Final Designs
Final design of the Template section of the Create World journey
Closed Beta Prototype
Product Features
- World Builder — Template - based creation with simple defaults and advanced mode for 100+ rules
- Sharing — One-click world sharing via links, codes, or friend invites
- Player Guide — Contextual help panel, always accessible but never intrusive
- World Browser — Centralized discovery with filters, tags, and more
Template Approach Validated
By implementing templates, we mitigated blank canvas paralysis through progressive disclosure:
- Before: 20% task completion (users were overwhelmed by 100+ options)
- After: 100% task completion (Feedback: "I don't feel intimidated by so many options")
Impact
RuneFest 2024 Keynote Demo
- Created polished live demonstration of the UGC portal for RuneFest 2024 keynote
- Showcased complete Create World flow to thousands of attendees
- Delivered production-ready interactive prototype within 5-month timeline
Validated Prototype
- 100% task completion with 5.6/7 ease score across all flows
- Immediate discoverability: 1-second average to find Create World
- Authentic OSRS feel with only minor refinements needed
Design System Legacy
- First-ever OSRS design system with reusable web components and patterns
- Enabled non-designers to maintain brand consistency through clear component documentation
- Built once, used everywhere — eliminating design debt across the OSRS web ecosystem
I can finally recreate classic game modes with my own twist — this is exactly what I've been waiting for!
Reflections
Strategic Shift
Strong usability doesn't guarantee viability — business strategy, resources, and technical feasibility matter just as much. I now collaborate with product and engineering early to validate constraints before investing heavily in complex designs.
The Blank Canvas
Research showed 70% of players feared starting from scratch, but a template-first approach achieved 100% completion rates. I now use templates and presets to eliminate 'blank canvas paralysis' in creation tools.
Designing for Scale
System level thinking creates lasting value — the Design System continued accelerating delivery even after Project Zanaris was paused. I now balance immediate product needs with reusable assets that evolve over time.
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Read the full story
See how I solved blank canvas paralysis, achieved 100% task completion, and created the OSRS Design System.
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