「I want to try character design, but I don't know where to start.」
「Thinking of something from zero is difficult...」
Creating something from nothing is extremely hard.
But rest assured, it's perfectly fine if you can't create something "amazingly original" from the beginning.
In fact, there is a specific way to make starting easier.
Analyze your "likes"
Do you have a "favorite character"? A character you think is cute or cool?
That feeling of "I like this" is very important. But if you want to start character design, it might be good to dig a little deeper into that.
Think of one character you like and write down the elements you find attractive.
Clothing? Facial features? Hairstyle? Decorations? Colors?
Try to verbalize specifically what you like.
Character design can be built using your "likes" as materials. Knowing what you like and having many "likes" is the key to starting character design.
There are many characters in the world. Don't limit yourself to just one; try to collect "likes" from various characters!
Collect many "likes" and try making your own "Favorite Elements Encyclopedia." If possible, categorize them into genres like "cool," "cute," or "beautiful"! This will be incredibly helpful in the next step!
Start by combining at first
When you hear "character design," it might seem like you need amazing ideas or a strong personality.
But you don't have to think so hard at first.
First, try combining your "likes." That's enough of a start.
The face has this kind of vibe.
The clothes go in this direction.
The colors feel like this.
I want to include this motif.
In that way, try creating a character composed of your "likes."
You don't have to make a genius invention right away.
It's very important that the "likes" within you take a proper shape.
「Being supported by someone」 or 「resonating with someone」 is the greatest power a character has, right? First, try designing with the intention of creating a character that you yourself can love.
To learn from characters in the world
When creating a character from zero, you need many "drawers" (references). In such cases, there is also a method of getting ideas from existing character designs.
What you should be conscious of here is "looking at the design."
For example, when you see a character illustration, what parts do you look at?
「The line art is beautiful.」
「Is the coloring anime-style? What kind of brushes are they using?」
「What about the pose, anatomy, and perspective?」
「How are they drawing in this style?」
The above viewpoints mainly focus on "drawing ability," such as expression methods and sketching skills. While these are very important, it's hard to cultivate "design ability" this way.
「What is the motif for this decoration?」
「What is the relationship between the color schemes?」
「How is this clothing constructed?」
By focusing on ideas and structure like this, you can finally see the design's intent and characteristics. In character design, it's crucial to analyze the design intent rather than the drawing ability.
Until you get used to it, try using those ideas as a reference, arranging them in your own style, and incorporating them into your designs. You won't build up your references unless you output (actually draw) rather than just look.
Get ideas from various things
Actually, you can get ideas from things that aren't characters. For example, what are the visual characteristics of the food you eat every day?
What color combinations are used in the app icons you use daily? How many colors are used, and what is the distribution?
Surprisingly, there are many ideas in daily life that can be applied to character design.
And sometimes, you can get ideas from others that you couldn't discover on your own. Even with the same theme, what people come up with for character design varies. When you realize, "Oh, there was that way of thinking," you add another reference to your collection.
At our school, we have character design classes and a student-run "Character Design Club" where they design characters based on the same theme every month and show them to each other! In fact, when you think with someone or compare designs on the same theme, it's much easier to encounter ideas you didn't have. For those who want to increase perspectives that are hard to expand alone, it's a great learning experience.
For those interested in character design, our classes and club offer a lot of learning, so if you're curious, come check out a trial lesson!
To those interested in Illust Academia
Information about classes, the online campus, the next recruitment, and trial lessons is announced on the official LINE. *You can also get a 500 yen coupon for the first month here!
「Can I attend too?」 「What kind of classes are there?」 「I want to know the atmosphere first.」
If that's you, please take a look at Illust Academia through the official LINE!
