Conversations with Terrance Harden

Today we’d like to introduce you to Terrance Harden.

Hi Terrance, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
It didn’t take long after discovering the world of tabletop that I wanted to create my own board games. Going from just needing something to do at home as a new father and husband, painting little figures, to understanding where those figures truly come from I decided to dig deeper into the industry.

I followed all the right social media pages, shook the right hands, and have done extensive research on how publishing works, finding projections for board gaming. I learned that this is an ever-growing industry and COVID was the perfect time to get involved. Not only did I discover a newfound love for playing and creating board games, but I also figured why not try my hand at making money off of something that makes me happy as well.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I’ve always been a creative/problem solver. Even as a little kid, there wasn’t a medium that I couldn’t figure out how to use to make something interesting and invent/stumble upon (to say the least). My growing years as a creative led to me going to the #1 design school in the world (Rhode Island School of Design), which also lead to my 12-year span as a Videographer, Motion graphics designer, and Film maker. My ingenuity, diligence, patience, and overall love for my work have made me a prospect for any task set in front of me. The only problem I’ve ever run into as an adult is other people’s opinions and needs for my skills. This, for a long while, has misconstrued and altered the way I think of myself as a creative. “If I was you I’d be a millionaire by now” this type of mentality, projected upon me, would slowly and subtly derail me from my creative curiosity, and intuitiveness for great work. Making me a very stale and miserable creative.

At some point, only focusing on how to make money doing videography, I would forget what creativity meant to me.

Until I ran into the world of the table top. Until I fell into a world no one knew of me and didn’t have any expectations or any need for me. This new space, this blank canvas, allowed me to rediscover myself. From 2019 – 2021 only a handful of people knew what I was working on and what it meant to me to find a new way to be creative. So now 5 Games deep, a very extensive network of black designers in the industry, a small crew to help with my publishing company, and a solid game now published, I have new ground to stand on and a new creative world to make mine.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Again for years I’ve developed and honed my skills as a visual artist. Music videos were something I fell into… I’m from west Philadelphia where you can find a rapper around every corner. I’m a natural networker and it isn’t hard for me to make new friends. The more I got into the scene the more personal request came my way. The more work I was handed the more chances I had to show off some of the cool creative ideas I had. The more ideas I had to show off the more word got out about this “dope shooter, Terrance.” I like to incorporate motion graphics and special effects into my videos. And I didn’t want to just shoot you rapping somewhere and ill figure out how the graphics fit in…no.

I wanted a theme, I wanted esthetic, I wanted a vibe. No shot was by accident and all animations had a purpose. This eventually lead me to be trusted to direct and shoot bigtime artists like Chrisette Michelle, Jadakiss, and Common.

I’m proud of myself for never letting anyone with giant egos turn me into one of them. I’ve always been straight up and down with people, even if the pill was hard to swallow because I’ve always put my love for my craft first.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
As the creator of the first ever published rendition of Spades, “POCKET SPADES” I’m hoping people will take to it and not only see a cool game but recognize a creative’s passion to create his own lane. I want everyone to see the intended ingenuity, making his stamp in a growing industry not many know about.

I could also use my hand in growing a fan base for my company! so if anyone finds this interesting enough I would for them to reach out and talk shop with me. Terranceharden@tboyztable.com or DM me on instagram @terrance_harden.

Contact Info:

• Website: tboyztable.com
• Instagram: @pocket.spades
• Twitter: @pocket_spades
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rBQ3yjZVWQ