Hi everyone,
As one of the artists behind the new Harry Potter pinball machine from Jersey Jack Pinball, I’d like to take a moment to openly address the recent conversations surrounding the artwork particularly around the use of AI and to share some insight into the process, the intentions, and the creative decisions that were made along the way.
AI tools were never used to generate full illustrations or replace the hand-crafted work, but rather as part of a much larger creative process that also included hand-drawing, painting, digital composition, and licensed assets.
I made the creative decision to pursue complexity over simplicity in the visual design. That was my call, and I stand by it. The reason is simple we wanted to deliver something that hadn’t been done before. Something that brought unique, dynamic poses and compositions to life scenes that represent not only moments from the films, but the emotional and narrative core of the entire Harry Potter story.
Our goal wasn’t to replicate what’s already out there. We wanted to give fans something completely new, something immersive and visually rich, where the art serves the gameplay and storytelling at every level. We believed that taking this risk would result in a more rewarding experience for the player.
To be transparent, we did use AI tools sparingly and intentionally, as a way to support the visual blending of certain elements and create harmony between complex assets. Every instance of AI use was guided by my own artistic vision and layered onto hand-crafted designs. It was never about replacing the human element it was about enhancing it.
That said, not everyone involved in the project had direct knowledge or understanding of these technologies. The leadership team at Jersey Jack Pinball was not involved in the technical art pipeline, and understandably, they were not in a position to explain or defend those tools, as they were unfamiliar with the specifics of how they were applied. The creative team took on that responsibility, always with the intent of delivering the best product possible.
What the audience sees is the final product. But what you don’t see is the countless revisions, challenges, feedback loops, technical restrictions, and approvals that went into making it all come together. It’s honestly a wonder that we were able to create something this complex and detailed, and I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved as a team.
The people at Jersey Jack Pinball gave everything to this project. This wasn’t just a job it was a passion project fueled by a deep respect for both the Harry Potter universe and the game of pinball itself. We did everything we could to bring something magical and memorable into the world.
At the end of the day, this machine was made for you the players, the collectors, the fans. We know there will be feedback, and we welcome it, because it means you care. We’ll keep learning, keep pushing, and keep creating.
Thank you for your passion for pinball.
Jesper