ILLUS-3936

CHARACTER CREATION

Faculty: Drew Shields, Amanda Clarke

Course Level: Junior, Senior, 5th Year

3 Credits

In this course we will explore the process of designing characters as well as the objects they possess and the environments they inhabit. Through a series of projects that emphasize conceptual thinking and functional design, students will learn how to skillfully use design in support of narrative. Full color works in a variety of media will be critiqued on their clarity of vision and strength of presentation. This course is a continuation of the ideas presented in Character Design and will serve students who have taken that class and students new to this subject matter.

Character design has always been an integral part of narrative illustration. Its application to diverse and emerging illustration markets such as digital game design, animation, comic books, film, merchandising, and advertising have substantially expanded its relevance. Students will push beyond stereotypical designs to develop characters and environments that are imaginative and culturally resonant. Particular emphasis will be placed on the expressive power of facial expression, body posture, color, and costume. Through exploration of our own perceptions of good/evil, success/failure, beauty/ugliness, we will create characters that have never been seen before. This course will stress the importance of visual investigation; research into other cultures and their artifacts – as well as into such areas as biology, anatomy, and engineering – can provide the character designer with the inspiration necessary for originality and the knowledge to make the character thoroughly convincing. Presentation will be emphasized. Good drawing, color and composition are all essential if an idea is to be presented with clarity and expressiveness. Students may choose any medium – provided that it allows for color. Examples of work from some of character design’s finest exponents, both contemporary and historical, will be shown and discussed.