Head of Middle School Transformation @ WSS
KATRINA AXFORD
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The 
​Character
Conception
​project

Year 9 Digital Art
Picture

Essential Questions:
​
1. what is concept art and why is it vital to industries such as video games, films and print media (comic books & graphic novels)?

2. how do character developers use the design process to successfully create characters that stand the test of time?

3. How can I develop my own characters using traditional (drawing) and contemporary TECHNIQUES (computer aided design software)? 


design brief

Bolt City Productions has asked character developers and concept artists from Wirreanda Secondary School to create a new superhero or character for a video game, film animation or print media. It can be totally original or a part of something already existing. 

YOU! are the character developer and concept artist for this project and therefore you must design and create artwork for the following

  • The name of your character
  • Logo
  • Figure concept art
  • Environmental concept art
  • Brief storyboard scenario (extension task)

All work must be displayed on a presentation board for Bolt City Productions exactly 4 weeks from the launch lesson.

UNDERSTAND and follow the design process

Picture

Research

Task One
Task Two

Smart Start: The 5 minute logo

Generation of Ideas: Name your character

Use the small booklet provided to you by the teacher to brain dump any ideas for a possible name for your character. Remember no idea is bad or silly at the moment. It is important you get every idea down on paper to generate lots of ideas.

GENERATION OF IDEAS: designing logo

​Many strong logos/symbols have stood the test of time. Simple striking designs that embody the essence of their character/superhero. So how does a logo develop from a simple thumbnail sketch and colour to a refined quality digital logo that can be printed on any surface?

How to design your symbol/logo for your character?

To design your logo/symbol there are many options. However for this project I would like you to draw your logo/symbol on paper starting with simple thumbnail sketches and develop them into designs similar to the colour designs below. Why? because drawing your design helps you be more original and I want you to develop a unique logo/symbol, today it is so easy to be influenced by a design that looks good online but doesn't reflect the identity of your character.

STEP ONE: CREATE THUMBNAIL SKETCHES

Picture
Thumbnail sketches are drawing quick, abbreviated drawings. Usually, they are done very rapidly and with no corrections - you can use any medium, though pen or pencil is the most common.Thumbnails sketches are usually very small, see the example to the left. Using the paper template provided by the teacher start developing quick sketches of what your logo/symbols for your character could look like. Use your research as inspiration for your design.

Picture

STEP TWO: REFINE IDEAS

I recommend using graph paper at this stage and remember never just develop one final design. Why? because you want your clients to critic a range of designs that is visually interesting and stands the test of time.  

 STEP THREE: COLOUR OPTIONS

Colour schemes can be experimented with in Photoshop after scanning in your final design.

Watch this! The logo design process from start to finish

do this challenge below! watch this you tube tutorial and recreate the logo using photoshop to build your knowledge and understanding.

GENERATION OF IDEAS: figure concept art

here is an exemplar of my design for Salt MAN

Salt Man created for a project called The Elemental Superhero Project. It was inspired by learning about the periodic table and focusing on the element sodium chloride. I researched sodium chloride and used it for inspiration for Salt Man's design. 
Picture

Smart starts

Cultural Characters Smart Start
Everyday Object Drawing Smart Start
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