Breathing life into imaginary creatures is a task that is often the responsibility for a concept artist working in the entertainment industry, so understanding how to develop unique, yet grounded creatures is essential. Working as part of a team, it’s also important to understand the full creature design workflow and any technical challenges to overcome to ensure any 2D designs translate smoothly into 3D sculpts.


Expanding on Level 4 modules, you will be introduced to the fundamentals and workflows for creature design such as:



Creature design fundamentals.

Animal anatomy study.

Crafting believable imaginary creatures.

Creature narrative.

Functional design.

Creature design turnarounds.

Technical and aesthetic considerations.

Replicating organic materials.

World building and visual storytelling.

Creature concept design pipeline.

Assessment Component 1 - (Learning outcomes 1,2,3)

Creature Concept Coursework weighted at 80% consisting of:

Demonstrate knowledge of artistic and technical and production considerations of 2D concept workflows, showing an acute understanding of the 3D pipeline as part of the development of creature concept designs. The project culminates in a Portfolio of development work and completed 3D concept designs presented as professional design sheets



Assessment Component 2 - (Learning outcomes 1,2,3 & 4)

A Presentation weighted at 20% consisting of:

A 10-minute presentation of the development of your practical work and final concept designs to discuss the success and failures of your workflow and design solutions.

1 x 3hr Lecture/Tutorial

1 x 3 hr Workshop

1. Develop knowledge and understanding of creature design fundamentals and the creature design pipeline, along with the core design principles to create visually compelling creatures.

2. Critically evaluate the creature concept pipeline and how 2d concepts transfer to 3d creature art, distinguishing design limitations and technical challenges and provide innovative design solutions in line with industry standard workflows.

3.Demonstrate a high level of skill in applying design principles to produce a professional-quality online portfolio of creature designs, showcasing creativity, originality, and technical proficiency.

4. Explain your design process and reflect on the successes and failures of your workflow and development.

Digital Painting Software

Digital Academy Forum Upload System

Microsoft Office

Data Projection Resource

Library

Games Lab

Drawing tablets

Digital Sculpting software

Sketchbooks

Traditional Sketching Materials – Pencils, Markers etc.

Whitlatch, T. and Banducci, G. (2010) Animals real and imagined: the fantasy of what is and what might be. Culver City, CA: Design Studio Press. (978-1933492926).


Whitlatch, T. (2015) Principles of creature design: creating imaginary animals. Culver City, CA: Design Studio Press. (978-1624650215).


Whitlatch, T. (2015) Science of creature design: understanding animal anatomy. Culver City, CA: Design Studio Press. (978-1624650291).


Holmes, M. (2016) Designing Creatures and Characters: How to Build an Artist's Portfolio for Video Games, Film, Animation and More. (978-1440344091).


3D Total Publishing (2020) Fundamentals of Creature Design: How to Create Successful Concepts Using Functionality, Anatomy, Color, Shape & Scale. (978-1912843121).

On this module you will explore the fundamentals of creature design, study animal anatomy and delve into key aspects for crafting visually compelling and believable creatures. Additionally, you will learn to identify technical aspects of the creature design pipeline to ensure your designs successfully translate from 2D concepts to 3D sculpts.