Scribd
Upload
754 views

U3 02 Character Design Tips

The document provides tips for character design, including: 1) Simplify character shapes by breaking them down into basic forms. Consider proportions that convey age, such as a larger head for youth. 2) Practice gesture poses while watching media to understand movement and personality. Draw loosely without fear of imperfect sketches. 3) Edit and refine sketches iteratively. Analyze your work from a distance and ensure the focal points and character actions are clear. Experiment with proportions.

Uploaded by

Muhammad Bobby Bangsawan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
754 views

U3 02 Character Design Tips

The document provides tips for character design, including: 1) Simplify character shapes by breaking them down into basic forms. Consider proportions that convey age, such as a larger head for youth. 2) Practice gesture poses while watching media to understand movement and personality. Draw loosely without fear of imperfect sketches. 3) Edit and refine sketches iteratively. Analyze your work from a distance and ensure the focal points and character actions are clear. Experiment with proportions.

Uploaded by

Muhammad Bobby Bangsawan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Lucy Fleming

Character
Design
Tips
Lucy’s Character
Design Tips
If you’re new to drawing characters, or are feeling lost when
developing your own voice these tips will hopefully help.

We have already talked about simplifying shapes. It’s


important to note that the same method can be used when
drawing characters and animals.

Break down the character’s shapes.

Simplify them as much as you’d like.

Consider the age of human characters. Visually, we


understand that a larger head to body ratio looks
younger. We also nd an ‘aw factor’ in the ingenue.
You can also play with intentional sharpness, and
juxtaposition to create something more edgy/cool.

Try drawing gesture poses whilst watching TV, music


videos or animations.

2
fi

Think about the personality of your


character, and try gesture poses
that feel to encapsulate that.

Much like with our thumbnails, the


details can come later - it’s
important to start simple and build
things up as we go.

Do not fear the stick gure!

Drawing loosely, and without fear of


how things look, can allow us to
inject plenty of movement and
personality.

EDIT AS YOU GO! Here you can


see a breakdown of how character
ideas can begin. I like using shape
simpli cation, but my characters
are slightly more ‘ eshy’ than other
illustrators. So, there is no right or
wrong (just what feels right or
wrong to you!)

This is a perfect opportunity to play


In this course, during the In uences lesson, I talk about how the Moomins and cartoons from with proportions - squat and
my childhood inspire the way that I draw characters using simple shapes. I think it’s chubby - long and lean - round
important to scour your own brain, to assess what you nd appealing in character design eyes, almond eyes or dots!
and analyse it and nd what feels authentic for you.

3
fi

fi
fl

fi
fl

fi
There are no short-cuts in art & design,
especially when developing our ‘voice’.

We will fail a lot more than we will


succeed. So, in my opinion, it is
important to sketch quickly and to learn
how to analyse and trust our artistic eye
before we spend hours on a painting.

Self-Critiquing tips
- Zoom out, step away and return to
your sketch. Ask yourself if your eye is
being drawn to the focal points you
hoped to enhance. If not, why not?
The design stage is your playground! Whilst sometimes we may feel our sketches aren’t instagram perfect,
- Ask yourself if it is clear what the their purpose is to allow us to explore ideas and learn. We want to gather and explore as much visual
characters are doing here? information as possible, as quickly as possible. - Never fear your sketchbook looking like a hot mess
(Mine does!)

- Do you personally like the


composition? - Is the tone/mood right? What does - What is the personality of this
this image say/feel? character, have I captured this in the
- Does there need to be less detail or way they move/react.
more? - Is there anything unnecessary here
that I can lose from the image, that - What design ‘rules’ can I bend and
- Should I try different facial does not detract from the design/ play with?
expressions, or positions for my mood/story?
characters?

You might also like