Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a cyber-Renaissance dystopia built on a deliberate black-and-gold dualism: gold for hope, the sun, and the Icarus myth; black for the dystopia beneath. Art director Jonathan Jacques-Belletête fused Renaissance ornament with industrial bevels.

Near-black surfaces are lit by warm amber-gold edge-lighting, with matte augmentation panels traced by hexagonal gold motifs. Nothing is cool blue or neon — the glow is always warm, muted, intentional.