Within the module students will be introduced to the fundamental processes required to produce innovative character concepts for games and film. This will include an introduction to the design and construction techniques of characters with a focus on personality, appeal, style and innovation alongside developing insights into how dynamic principles can be observed, understood and applied.

Student will develop skills in:


Defining the structure of creativity and the research process

Techniques in design ideation and iteration

Deconstruction of character design

Construction techniques to facilitate character design

Psychology of nonverbal communication

Emotioneering characters

Story and character

Defining the concept art workflow

Character Design

Assessment Component 1 – (Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 4)

A Portfolio of Character Concepts worth 80% consisting of:

You will produce a portfolio of character concept designs in line with a given brief. The portfolio should be representative of the expectations, pipelines, and general workflows of the appropriate industry. The portfolio should include (but is not limited to) a final character or characters, silhouette exploration and thumbnails with the inclusion of design and colour ideation. The portfolio should also include the critical analysis of key points and design choices within the design process.



Assessment Component 2 – (Learning Outcomes 1, 3)

A reflective presentation worth 20% consisting of:

You will deliver a presentation reflecting on your design choices, ideation process and any other practice relevant to the development of your outcome. The presentation will be 10 minutes in length with a further 10 minutes devoted to questions about your work.

1x 1hr Lecture

1x 2hr Demo/Tutorial

1x 3hr Workshop

1. Demonstrate industry appropriate workflows and core skills required for character concept design

2. Develop innovative and creative examples of character concepts

3. Critically reflect upon the success or failures throughout a process, in the context of industry expectation

4. Explore effective emotional portrayal through character design

Photo Editing Software

Digital Illustration Software

Digital Academy Forum

Digital Academy Upload System

Wacom Tablets

3D Total 2018, Creating Stylized Characters, 3D Total Publishing, Worcester UK ISBN-13 978-1909414747


Roberston, S 2014, Skillful Huntsman: The Visual Development of a Grimm Tale at Art Center College of Design, Design Studio Press, New York ISBN-13 978-0972667647


Bridgman, B 1920, Constructive Anatomy, Dover Publications, New York ISBN-13 978-0486211046


Isbister, K 2006, Game Characters by Design (A psychological approach), Morgan Kaufmann, Massachusetts ISBN-13 978-1558609211


Mattesi, M 2006, Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators, iUniverse, Indiana ISBN-13 978-0240808451


Interactive Functional Anatomy (2013). [DVD, 1902470893]. Colchester, Primal Pictures.


Threinen-Pendarvis, C 2004, The Photoshop and Painter Artist Tablet Book: Creative Techniques in Digital Painting, Peachpit Press, California ISBN-13 978-0321168917

This module has been designed to provide a solid foundation for the fundamentals of character design. With an emphasis on visual shape language, nonverbal communication and narrative ques, this module will allow students to tackle character design for a variety of industries.