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ASSIGNMENT
Students will create an original character design that communicates a clear personality, story, or purpose through visual choices. Students will develop a character by considering physical appearance, clothing, accessories, color, pose, facial expression, and other visual elements that help communicate who the character is.
Students will begin by researching and gathering visual references, then develop multiple sketches and ideas before selecting and refining their strongest concept. Students will use digital drawing and illustration techniques to create a polished final character design. The final artwork should demonstrate intentional use of design principles and show how visual choices can communicate the character's personality, background, interests, or role.
Students should focus on creating an original and visually engaging character rather than simply copying an existing character or established design.
Specifications
minimum of 11x11 @ 300 dpi
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Develop an original character concept based on a specific idea, personality, story, or purpose.
Use research and visual references to develop and refine character ideas.
Create multiple preliminary sketches and concepts before selecting a final design.
Apply the elements and principles of design to create a visually effective character.
Use shape, color, proportion, clothing, accessories, pose, and facial expression to communicate personality and character traits.
Develop a consistent visual style throughout a character design.
Use digital drawing and illustration tools to create a polished final artwork.
Demonstrate an understanding of how visual choices influence an audience's perception of a character.
Participate in critique and use feedback to revise and improve artwork.
Present a finished character design that demonstrates creativity, craftsmanship, and intentional decision-making.
Big Ideas
Big Ideas
Design communicates ideas. Visual choices can communicate information about a character without relying on words.
Characters tell stories. A well-designed character can communicate personality, background, occupation, interests, relationships, and personal history.
Every design choice matters. Color, shape, proportion, clothing, pose, and expression work together to influence how an audience understands a character.
The creative process requires revision. Strong artwork develops through brainstorming, research, sketching, experimentation, critique, and refinement.
Visual references support the creative process. Artists can study existing visual information and use it as inspiration while developing original ideas.
Digital tools expand creative possibilities. Digital illustration allows artists to experiment, revise, and refine their ideas efficiently.
Essential Questions
Essential Questions
How can visual design communicate a character's personality and story?
How do an artist's choices affect the way an audience perceives a character?
How can color, shape, clothing, and accessories communicate character traits?
Why is it important to create multiple ideas before selecting a final design?
How can research and visual references improve the character design process?
How does revision strengthen a final work of art?
What makes a character design visually memorable and effective?
How can digital tools be used to communicate a creative idea effectively?
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Character Design
The process of creating the visual appearance, personality, and characteristics of an original character.
Concept
The central idea or overall vision behind a character or artwork.
Character Traits
The qualities or characteristics that define a character's personality, behavior, or identity.
Visual Reference
An image, object, person, or other source of visual information used to help an artist develop and improve an artwork.
Silhouette
The solid outline or overall shape of a character. A strong silhouette can help a character remain recognizable even without interior details.
Proportion
The relationship between the sizes of different parts of a character or object.
Pose
The position and arrangement of a character's body that can communicate action, emotion, or personality.
Expression
The visual appearance of a character's face or body that communicates emotion or mood.
Gesture
The movement and overall flow of a character's pose that helps communicate action, energy, and emotion.
Color Palette
A selected group of colors used consistently throughout a character design.
Shape Language
The use of specific types of shapes to communicate personality, mood, or characteristics. For example, rounded shapes may suggest friendliness, while sharp shapes may suggest danger or aggression.
Line Quality
The characteristics of lines used in an artwork, including their weight, thickness, direction, and variation.
Texture
The visual or implied surface quality of an object or material.
Composition
The arrangement and organization of visual elements within an artwork.
Elements of Art
The basic visual components of art: line, shape, form, color, value, texture, and space.
Principles of Design
Guidelines for organizing visual elements, including balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, unity, and variety.
Iteration
The process of creating multiple versions of an idea in order to explore possibilities and improve the final design.
Refinement
The process of improving and adding detail to an artwork or design after the initial concept has been developed.
Originality
The quality of creating a unique idea or visual solution rather than directly copying an existing work.
Digital Illustration
Artwork created or enhanced using digital tools and software.
17-Class-Period Learning Sequence
17-Class-Period Learning Sequence
Class Period 1: Introduction and Bell Ringer
Class Period 1: Introduction and Bell Ringer
Students complete the "How Would You Improve It?" bell ringer by analyzing a poor logo, advertisement, or photograph. Students identify three improvements and explain why each change would make the design more effective.
Introduce the Character Design assignment and discuss how artists and designers make intentional choices to communicate information visually.
Choose from the following prompts
Class Period 2: Introduction to Character Design
Class Period 2: Introduction to Character Design
Introduce the principles of character design and visual storytelling. Students examine examples of character designs and discuss how silhouette, shape, proportion, color, clothing, pose, and expression communicate personality and story.
Students begin thinking about the type of character they would like to create.
Class Period 3: Character Brainstorming
Class Period 3: Character Brainstorming
Students brainstorm ideas for an original character. They identify the character's personality, interests, background, role, motivations, and other traits.
Students begin developing a written character profile that will guide their visual decisions throughout the project.
Class Period 4: Visual Research and References
Class Period 4: Visual Research and References
Students gather visual references related to their character. References may include clothing, hairstyles, anatomy, objects, environments, occupations, cultural influences, animals, architecture, or other relevant visual information.
Students organize their references and identify specific visual elements they may incorporate into their original character design.
Class Period 5: Thumbnail Sketches
Class Period 5: Thumbnail Sketches
Students create multiple small thumbnail sketches exploring different character ideas.
Students experiment with basic shapes, silhouettes, proportions, and overall body structure without focusing heavily on details.
Class Period 6: Character Concept Development
Class Period 6: Character Concept Development
Students continue developing multiple character concepts and explore different approaches to the character's appearance.
Students experiment with shape language, silhouettes, proportions, clothing, hairstyles, and accessories to determine which visual choices best communicate the character's personality.
Class Period 7: Selecting and Refining a Character
Class Period 7: Selecting and Refining a Character
Students review their character concepts and select their strongest design direction.
Students begin refining the selected concept, making intentional decisions about the character's overall appearance and visual identity.
Class Period 8: Anatomy, Proportion, and Pose
Class Period 8: Anatomy, Proportion, and Pose
Students develop the character's anatomy, proportions, and body structure.
Students explore different poses and consider how body language can communicate personality, emotion, movement, and action.
Class Period 9: Facial Expressions and Emotion
Class Period 9: Facial Expressions and Emotion
Students develop facial features and expressions that communicate the character's emotions and personality.
Students explore how changes in the eyes, eyebrows, mouth, and overall facial structure can affect the audience's interpretation of the character.
Class Period 10: Clothing, Accessories, and Props
Class Period 10: Clothing, Accessories, and Props
Students develop clothing, accessories, and props that provide additional information about the character.
Students consider how these visual elements can communicate the character's personality, occupation, interests, background, or story.
Class Period 11: Color Palette Development
Class Period 11: Color Palette Development
Students develop a color palette for their character.
Students experiment with color combinations and consider how color can communicate personality, mood, emotion, symbolism, and visual identity.
Class Period 12: Beginning the Final Digital Character
Class Period 12: Beginning the Final Digital Character
Students begin creating their final digital character illustration.
Students establish the overall composition, proportions, silhouette, and major shapes before moving into detailed rendering.
Class Period 13: Digital Character Development
Class Period 13: Digital Character Development
Students continue developing their digital character.
Students refine line quality, anatomy, clothing, accessories, facial features, and other character details while demonstrating effective use of digital illustration tools.
Class Period 14: Color, Value, Lighting, and Texture
Class Period 14: Color, Value, Lighting, and Texture
Students develop the final visual appearance of the character by applying color, value, lighting, and texture.
Students refine the artwork to create depth, visual interest, and a cohesive final design.
Class Period 15: Completion and Peer Critique
Class Period 15: Completion and Peer Critique
Students complete the first full version of their character design.
Students participate in a peer critique and provide constructive feedback related to concept, visual communication, design, craftsmanship, and technical execution.
Class Period 16: Revision and Final Refinement
Class Period 16: Revision and Final Refinement
Students use peer feedback and self-evaluation to revise their character designs.
Students make final adjustments to improve composition, visual communication, craftsmanship, color, detail, and overall presentation.
Students prepare their final artwork for submission.
Class Period 17: Final Presentation, Critique, and Reflection
Class Period 17: Final Presentation, Critique, and Reflection
Students present their completed character designs to the class.
Students participate in a final critique and reflect on their creative process. Students discuss their original concept, visual decisions, use of design principles, challenges, revisions, and what they learned throughout the project.
Assessment Criteria
Assessment Criteria
Student work will be evaluated based on:
Concept and Originality
Concept and Originality
The character demonstrates a creative, original, and thoughtfully developed concept.
Visual Communication
Visual Communication
The character's visual choices effectively communicate personality, traits, emotions, background, or story.
Design
Design
The student demonstrates effective use of the elements and principles of design.
Digital Skills
Digital Skills
The student demonstrates effective use of digital drawing and illustration tools and techniques.
Craftsmanship
Craftsmanship
The final artwork demonstrates attention to detail, refinement, and technical skill.
Creative Process
Creative Process
The student demonstrates brainstorming, research, sketching, experimentation, critique, revision, and refinement throughout the project.
Presentation
Presentation
The final character design is complete, polished, and professionally presented.
Reflection and Critique
Reflection and Critique
The student can explain their creative decisions, respond to feedback, and reflect on the development of their final character design.
Part 1 & 2. 8/6
Part 1 & 2. 8/6
Choose from the following prompts
Create a google slide presentation, research the history of the prompts, answer the following questions, include reference images. Use the attached Concept Development Questions
Part 4
Part 4
Model Sheet
Model Sheet
A character design sheet, model sheet, character board, character rotation or study is a document used as a guide for the appearance, poses, and gestures of an original character in animation, comics, and video games. This guide document is typically illustrated during the concept art, or pre-production phase of a project.
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