The Computer Arts Practice module was another project I undertook for my third year at University. In this module we were given a lot of freedom with the brief. We were tasked with creating our own project which needed to demonstrate our creative capabilities in a field that was relevant to the work we might want to do in the future.
Based on this idea I decided that my project would focus on character and creature design. In one of my previous modules I had designed a creature, an environment and a vehicle each from the same fantasy setting. I had designed an environment of large floating islands inhabited by people who would travel through the use of large wooden gliders. I took inspiration from this old module as I felt that I hadn’t explored these ideas as fully as I might have been able to.
In the beginning my plan was to create designs for three characters and three creatures but in discussions with my lecturers I narrowed it down to one design for each. I would create a design for an adventurous glider pilot and a predatory animal and explore these designs to the point that they could be taken through a production pipeline in order to create a functional 3D model.
I looked at a variety of sources to inspire the design of the pilot ranging from authentic wartime pilots to characters from Game of Thrones. I wanted to create something that would communicate the look of a pilot in a medieval fantasy setting while also being believable in terms of function and material. I wanted to push the limits of disbelief in terms of the realism of the design.
I also began to research how professionals presented character designs in order to study what I might need to include in a character breakdown. I looked at how motion was communicated and how hidden design elements were highlighted. I considered how they created variations in costume, shape language and colour palette in order to create a more fully realised final design.
For my creature design I wanted to create a land based predator with visual elements inspired by deep sea creatures.
I looked at the features most common to some of the frankly hideous creatures that come from the deep sea and tried to work out what it was that made them so horrifying. I also wanted to work the visible strength of apex land predators into my design as the shape language and confidence those form bring create animals that give off feelings of power and fear.
I was directed to the work of artists like Terryl Whitlatch for inspiration for creature breakdowns. These pieces demonstrated a need to explore the different ranges of motion and anatomy that would be required in order for a 3D artist to be able to create a functional model from my design.
I began by creating some sketches of potential pilot designs. Once I had created some simple sketches I expanded further on a few of them before I finally settled on my last design.
When working on the creature design I took a slightly different approach. I studied the form of a big cat in order to inform myself about the overall shape language. After that I began to sketch head designs based around the jaws of goblin sharks and angler fish.
I then considered different designs for the eyes as well as features that might aid the creature in traversing from one island to another including the design of it’s legs and paws.
Following on from this early phase I began to clear up the design features of both the character and the creature. I explored areas of anatomy, costume design, texture and colour palette.
In the final stages of the design process for the character I re-arranged the presentation of the character breakdown a few times and improved the overall rendering of the character. I also developed a separate sheet of information to accompany the turnaround which would elaborate on the characters equipment and purpose.
Final Character
For the final stages of the creature design I followed a similar path to the character. I created a clean turnaround and an information sheet to clarify some of the anatomy and less clear design features.
Final Creature
Overall I was pleased with the result of this project, I felt that I had succeeded in my initial objective having revised my very first idea I was able to produce more information and content for two designs than I would have been able to for six.
I do feel that the designs could have been more fully explored in the early stages of the project. In the future I will aim to build more on my initial ideas in order to avoid becoming mired in my very first design.