The Ultimate Guide to Board Game Design Services

Indie board game publishers can't do it all: editing rulebooks, marketing, and graphic design all benefit from expertise. Our guide to board game design services can help you find the right person for the job.

Services list last updated: December 18, 2023

Check out our Board Game Design and Marketing Services list.

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Creating a game takes many different skills and very few people possess them all. Maybe you’re like me and you’re good with getting your game mechanics to work but you can’t draw to save your life. Perhaps you have friends well-versed in Kickstarter marketing but what you really need is someone who can put together a gameplay video. It’s also possible you consider yourself a decent writer but you really need someone more familiar with the current standards and practices for rulebook writing. At some point, moving forward with your game design will probably mean hiring someone to help you with specific tasks. The purpose of this article is to help you find the person you need.

What You Should Ask Before Hiring

For each pro you contact, you will likely want to know most or all of the items below. In my experience, most people will voluntarily provide this information but if they don’t, you should feel free to ask.

  • Education/training – Ask what kind of formal education or training the candidate has had. Keep in mind there are a lot of skilled people out there who don’t have any formal education in the subject matter area.
  • Experience – Ask the pro how much experience they have in the general field as well as specific experience as it pertains to board games. For example, you may find someone who has a lot of experience in general marketing but not specifically board game marketing. Keep in mind there are many people who are just starting out in the board game industry. If they don’t have a lot of experience, their rate/cost will likely be lower than most.
  • Typical rate – Ask the pro if they have a specific pay rate in mind. The rate may be with respect to time, word length, page length, complexity of game, etc. Or it might be a flat rate for a project.
  • Estimated cost for project – Most pros will need detailed information on your task/project in order to provide an overall estimated cost. The estimated overall cost is something you’ll likely want to know before hiring a candidate.
  • References – Ask what other people the pro has worked with or projects/games they’ve worked on. I highly recommend you contact those people or check out those games.

Ensuring an Efficient Working Relationship

Once you hire your pro, you’ll want to avoid confusion or misunderstanding that may cause delays. Below is a list of items you want to make sure you understand. Some pros will provide an email or some other document that outlines these items. But if you’re not sure of something, you should ask.

  • Materials supplied by you – Sometimes you will need to supply materials. For example, if you hire a product photographer, you will need to send them a copy of your game. You will need to understand what you are expected to provide and when.
  • Method of payment – These days there’s many ways to transfer funds. You can write a check or even use a service like PayPal. Some people have a way to pay them through their website. Make sure you know their preferred method.
  • Preferred method of communication – There are various ways to contact or collaborate with each other. Some people use email while others like text messages. Make sure you understand the best way to get in contact with your pro.

Recommendations and Feedback

If your pro did a fantastic job, be sure to recommend them to other designers. Many pros depend on word of mouth to grow their business.

If your pro fell short of expectations be sure to provide feedback (tactfully, of course). Be sure to tell people what they did right as well. In my experience, I’ve only had minor difficulties like delays in communication. Most people are open to feedback especially if they are just starting a new business.

Board Game Design and Marketing Services List

The list of services that a board game designer needs these days is dizzying: photography, editing, sculpting, graphic design, legal, marketing, and more. We’ve compiled a list of individuals and companies who can help you bring your game to market.

Add your company to this list.

Disclaimer: This list of individuals and companies has been collected from individual submissions and our own research. Inclusion in this list does not constitute endorsement by Meeple Mountain. If you’ve worked with someone you feel should be removed from this list, please contact us directly.

Listing 135 vendors

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A.P. Klosky / Blackfall Press LLC

  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Writer

Aaron Clift

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Community Manager
  • Graphic designer
  • Website Developer

Anchochaba Consulting LLC

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Cultural Consultant
  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Marketing
  • Photographer
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Project Manager
  • Writer

Andrei Novac

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Development services
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Marketing
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Andrew Birkett

  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Marketing

Andy Van Zandt

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Development services
  • Project Manager
  • Solo Design

Ashenhold Art

  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Editor
  • Photographer
  • Writer

Ben Daniel – NoSoulNoProblem

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Graphic designer
  • Photographer
  • Video Services
  • Videographer / Animator

Ben Toepel / Kartenhouse

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Cultural Consultant
  • Graphic designer
  • Marketing
  • Photographer
  • Solo Design
  • Videographer / Animator

Benjamin Kocher

  • Editor
  • Writer

Bez Shahriari

  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Communications / Social Media
  • Cultural Consultant
  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Writer

Bifrost Games Development

  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Prototyping
  • Solo Design

Blue Panther LLC

  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Prototyping
  • Warehousing & Fulfillment

Board Game Revolution

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Marketing

Bob Nolan

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Community Manager
  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Event Manager
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Marketing
  • Project Manager
  • Writer

Breeze Grigas / Zephyr Workshop

  • Development services
  • Event Manager
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Prototyping

Brenna Noonan

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Communications / Social Media
  • Community Manager
  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Graphic designer
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Marketing
  • Project Manager
  • Sculpting / 3d Modeling
  • Solo Design
  • Videographer / Animator
  • Writer

Brian Neff

  • Community Manager
  • Development services
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Project Manager
  • Prototyping
  • Quality Control
  • Solo Design

Brieger Development

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Graphic designer
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Project Manager
  • Solo Design

Brittanie Boe

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Marketing

Bryan Gaffin

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Marketing

Cae Hawksmoor

  • Editor
  • Quality Control
  • Writer

Caezar Al-Jassar

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Manufacturing & Logistics

Charles White

  • IT / Technical Support

Chris Backe

  • Editor
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Website Developer
  • Writer

Christoph Langum

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Development services
  • Graphic designer
  • Solo Design
  • Videographer / Animator
  • Writer

Clockwork Phoenix Games

  • Development services

Cocktail Inc

  • App Developer
  • Development services
  • Graphic designer
  • Prototyping

Crowd Pop Marketing

  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Marketing
  • Photographer
  • Video Services
  • Writer

Dan Arndt

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Editor
  • Project Manager
  • Writer

Daniel Wilkinson

  • Development services
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Daniel Zayas

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Marketing

David Digby

  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Project Manager
  • Solo Design

David Van Drunen

  • Development services
  • Solo Design
  • Writer

Derek Miller

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Marketing

Devin Lewis

  • Development services
  • Solo Design
  • Writer

Devon J. Mettlin / BoardGameHype

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Community Manager
  • Marketing
  • Video Services

Diego Ricchiuti

  • App Developer
  • Development services
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Prototyping
  • Sculpting / 3d Modeling
  • Solo Design

Ed Wedig

  • Graphic designer
  • Video Services

Elizabeth Borowski

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Graphic designer
  • Solo Design

Emil Larsen

  • Development services
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Evan Halbert

  • Development services
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Femi Olusanya

  • Community Manager
  • Cultural Consultant
  • Customer Service
  • Development services
  • Event Manager
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Project Manager
  • Writer

Ferdinand Capitulo / The Cardboard Stacker

  • Graphic designer
  • Photographer
  • Video Services
  • Videographer / Animator

Florentyna Butler

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Graphic designer
  • Marketing
  • Project Manager
  • Prototyping

Forever Stoked Creative

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Writer

Funagain Distribution

  • Marketing
  • Sales
  • Warehousing & Fulfillment

George Georgeadis | ONIRO

  • Photographer
  • Video Services
  • Videographer / Animator

GEvan..

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator

Half-a-Kingdom Games

  • Development services
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Solo Design

Hanna Björkman/We are Knytt

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Editor
  • Graphic designer
  • Photographer
  • Writer

Harriet Cooper Translations

  • Translation & Localization

Hicreate Games

  • Graphic designer
  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Prototyping

Indie Game Alliance

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Cultural Consultant
  • Customer Service
  • Development services
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Marketing
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Project Manager
  • Sales

Ingenious Studios

  • App Developer
  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Development services
  • Project Manager
  • Prototyping
  • Sculpting / 3d Modeling

Jack Rosetree

  • Editor
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Writer

Jack Ruggless

  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Graphic designer
  • Prototyping
  • Sculpting / 3d Modeling
  • Solo Design

James Wallis

  • Development services
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Jared Nielsen

  • Development services
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Marketing
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Jason Brisson

  • Event Manager
  • Solo Design
  • Writer

Jason Juta Illustration

  • Artist / Illustrator

Jason Washburn

  • Development services
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Jeff Fraser

  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Writer

John Fiorillo

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Graphic designer
  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Prototyping
  • Quality Control
  • Solo Design

Jonathan Gilmour

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Development services
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Project Manager
  • Prototyping
  • Solo Design

Jordan Boschman

  • Editor
  • Writer

Julian Kay

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Solo Design
  • Writer

Kagan Productions

  • Video Services

Kai Bettzieche

  • Translation & Localization

Kate Finch

  • Development services
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Keith Wilcoxon / Brains & Brawn Gaming

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Editor
  • Graphic designer
  • Writer

Kenneth YWN, Rainyv Ltd.

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Marketing
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Project Manager
  • Prototyping
  • Quality Control
  • Solo Design

Kevin Clark

  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Project Manager

Kovray

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Photographer
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Video Services
  • Videographer / Animator
  • Writer

Launch Tabletop

  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Prototyping

Laura Briskin-Limehouse

  • Editor
  • Writer

Levi Mote

  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Customer Service
  • Development services
  • Graphic designer
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Project Manager
  • Sculpting / 3d Modeling
  • Writer

LudiBooster

  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Marketing

Luna – Aspie Gamer Girl

  • Graphic designer
  • Photographer
  • Video Services

M. P. & Co.

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Editor
  • Graphic designer
  • Writer

Mano Kapazoglou

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Graphic designer
  • Prototyping
  • Videographer / Animator

Marshall Britt

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Development services
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Marketing
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Meeeple

  • Video Services
  • Videographer / Animator

Meeple On Board – Vanguard

  • Cultural Consultant
  • Licensing Agency
  • Manufacturing & Logistics

Meeps & Peeps

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Community Manager
  • Event Manager
  • Marketing
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Sales

Melissa Lewis-Gentry

  • Development services
  • Event Manager
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Marketing
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Project Manager
  • Quality Control
  • Sales

Mesa Game Lab

  • Video Services
  • Videographer / Animator

Miguel Conceição

  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Translation & Localization
  • Writer

Nathan Deiwert

  • Artist / Illustrator

NEROGAMES

  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Nubbernaut Studios

  • App Developer
  • Development services
  • Website Developer

Other Stuff Games

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Development services
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Marketing
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Overboard Games

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Community Manager
  • Marketing
  • Sculpting / 3d Modeling
  • Video Services

Paragon Studios

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Development services
  • Graphic designer
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Pat Turner Studios

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Graphic designer
  • Sculpting / 3d Modeling

Paul Toderas

  • Development services
  • Writer

Professor’s Lab

  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Quillsilver Studio

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Communications / Social Media
  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Graphic designer
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Marketing
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Project Manager
  • Sculpting / 3d Modeling
  • Solo Design
  • Video Services
  • Writer

Rob Wynkoop

  • Sales
  • Warehousing & Fulfillment

Rowan Pierce

  • Cultural Consultant
  • Editor
  • Writer

RP, Rest and Reason

  • Development services
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Writer

Samantha Barlin

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Graphic designer

Samit

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Marketing

Sen-Foong Lim

  • Cultural Consultant
  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Solo Design
  • Writer

Skye Larsen

  • Editor
  • Writer

Snowbright Studio

  • App Developer
  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Cultural Consultant
  • Development services
  • Graphic designer
  • Website Developer
  • Writer

Story Maker Games

  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Graphic designer
  • Writer

Tabletop United

  • Marketing

Tabletopping

  • Photographer

Tank & DPS

  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Development services
  • Graphic designer
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Tanner Wilson

  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Graphic designer
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Project Manager
  • Solo Design
  • Writer

The Game Crafter

  • Development services
  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Prototyping

Thomas Eliot

  • Development services
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Tiz Creel

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Cultural Consultant
  • Graphic designer
  • Photographer
  • Sculpting / 3d Modeling
  • Solo Design
  • Video Services
  • Videographer / Animator
  • Writer

Tony Mastrangeli

  • Art / Creative Director
  • Graphic designer
  • Photographer

Tony Steele

  • Artist / Illustrator
  • Graphic designer
  • Solo Design

Tyler Omichinski

  • Development services
  • Editor
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Project Manager
  • Solo Design
  • Writer

Tyson Mertlich

  • Development services
  • Professional Playtesting Services

Vangelis Bagiartakis

  • Development services
  • Professional Playtesting Services
  • Prototyping
  • Solo Design

Vaughn Reynolds

  • Communications / Social Media
  • Kickstarter Manager
  • Marketing

With a Deck of Fifty-One

  • Editor
  • Translation & Localization
  • Writer

About the author

Gary Chavez

Retired Air Force Major, Aerospace Engineer, Salsa Dancer and Instructor, Married 11 years with 2 kids, Owner of GCRS Games - I love playing and designing board games and talking to other people who play and/or design board games.

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