Illustration & Visual Narrative // Project 1A : Vormator Challenge
26/08/20 - 11/09/20 (Week 1 - Week 3)
Caitlyn Aurelia Tjandra (0339381) / BDCM
Illustration and Visual Narrative
Caitlyn Aurelia Tjandra (0339381) / BDCM
Illustration and Visual Narrative
Project 1A- Vormator Challenge
Instruction
Week 1 (26/08/20)
For this week, we were assign the task, vormator character design. This means that we need to create a character with the shapes provided below.
We were instructed to start with a rough sketch of my character using the shapes, then digitally create the final design on adobe illustrator. However there are certain rules we must follow:
PowerPoint
Visual Analysis
Research
Cartoon and Video game Character
Growing up I am fond of cartoon. I watch cartoon nearly everyday on tv cable. my most favourite cartoon up until now is the famous The Amazing World of Gumball. It is no stranger that the character, Gumball and Darwin has a distinctive character design. Gumball is supposedly based on a cat, while ironically Darwin is supposedly resembles a fish. Secondly, there is no one in the world who doesn't know Doraemon. Doraemon is a robot cat from the future, therefore this character has a more minimalistic look.
Nitendo has famous character, especially in the new popular gameplay called Animal Crossing Horizon.
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| Fig 1.1 Gumball |
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| Fig 1.2 Doraemon |
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| Fig 1.3 Isabelle |
Shadow Studies
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| Fig 1.4 Gumbal's shadow |
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| Fig 1.5 Isabelle's shadow |
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| Fig 1.6 Doraemon's shadow |
This shadow studies has helped me to find out how famous character has a distinctive style that even if we looked at only their shadow we are able to recognise them.
Exploration
Week 2 (02/09/20) : Sketches
Character BnW Sketches
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| Fig 2.0 Procreate Initial Sketches At first, I need to do some sketches which I did in procreate. I was having a hard time combining the shapes and creating a unique character. Therefore, I did some research on Pinterest and got some new ideas. |
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| Fig 2.1 Adobe Digital draft 1 |
Character colour application
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| Fig 2.2 Ambros Bnw |
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| Fig 2.3 Ambrosias Colour applied |
| Add caption |
Ambros is a character based on an onigiri. it has a cute triangle body shape and a stripe going down along the middle of the face like a seaweed. I choose this colour because it has a pastel based colour while having colour closely related to onigiri. The colour is very illustrative vibe and this character's colour is more tone down with the application of mute pink and pastel blue.
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| Fig 2.4 Colour exploration |
Fig 2.5 Gaea Bnw
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| Fig 2.6 Gaea Final color Application For this cute little character. I based this character off a mushroom. This character has a droplet shape body and a droopy big head almost looks like a canopy. I also add a hair and blush to add a little more texture to the character. I choose the completely opposite colour of Ambros. This character has more a colourful vibe and the colour itself is more vivid. The pink that I use resembles more to a red and paired with bright yellow which portray a happy mood. to neutralise the colourful colours I add a dark blue on the outline of the body. |
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| Fig 2.7 Final character: Gaea |
After a careful consideration and doing secondary research, which I did by asking my friends and my parents, they all leaning towards Gaea. They said that Gaea has a vivid colour which is great for game illustration. The shape of Gaea also has a distinctive look which they were able to recognise right away. Therefore, I choose Gaea as my final character.
Application
Week 3 (09/09/20) : Trading Card
Trading Card Research
Since we need to apply our character into a trading card, I did my research first on Pinterest. Ms Anis told us that we don't really need to make our own trading card. We can use existing trading card like Pokemon and vanguard card. However, I want to be able to have my design specifically made by me. I want my design to be special and I also thought that this is an opportunity for me to design a trading card.
After some times looking through Pinterest, the card that I like the most is usually a tarot card. Tarot card has a minimalistic but still maintain an aesthetic looks. This were my reference for my Trading Card:
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| Fig 3.1 Trading Card Mood Board |
After I choose cards that I liked, I put it on a moodboard to see what kind of things do I like. I like a more simplistic card and how the colour of the card could flow smoothly. I don't really like card that has too many graphic elements. Therefore, after I have done my research, I went to adobe. Illustrator and try out some things.
Trading Card Design
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| Fig 3.2 Trading Card Designs |
At first I did a 3 tryouts of the card, which is the three from the right. However after 3 tryout, I don't have any card that caught my eyes, therefore I went ahead and try some more. After a few times of trying to figure out the colours, I choose the second from the left.
After choosing the card, I went ahead to add the necessary details, such as names and skills. However, after finalising the card, The colour of the card seemed to crash with the background, therefore I wanted to change the colour .
After trying several times again, I've come up with design that's more my style. This design has a more minimalistic and aesthetically pleasing card.
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| FIG 3.3 Trading Card Design 2 |
Next, I needed to choose from all the cards that I have design and I had it narrowed down into three design. This is the draft of the three final design that I like:
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| Fig 3.3 Final Trading Card Design Draft 1 |
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| Fig 3.4 Final Trading Card Draft 2 |
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| Fig 3.5 Final Trading Card Draft 3 |
Since I had a hard time choosing, I put a poll on my instagram and ask my friends to helped me choose. After quiet some times, I finally get the results.
This is my final trading card that I choose with the helped of my friends. I need to touch up the card in photoshop in order to get the result that I wanted. I was quite happy with my work. I never design a trading card nor an actual character.
Reflection
Week 1 - 3 (26/08/20 - 11/09/20)
Experience: This was a difficult task that were given to me. Although it was fun creating character on adobe illustrator, it was very challenging when we need to made it out of only 8 shapes. furthermore, the shapes were not usual basic shapes, the shapes has quirky lines and hard to combines.
Observation: It takes patience to make the most out of your drawing. When I was doing my research about trading card, the card that appear was complicated card such as Pokemon and yougiyoh. Meanwhile, I like cards that has a modern and sophisticated mood. That is why I decided to make my own card instead of a template.
Findings: I found that Adobe Illustrator is an easy and helpful software. I could manipulate a lot of thing in the software. When I was creating the background, tracing nor make character, the tools on adobe is really helpful. It takes a while to figure out, however, once you do, you can create basically anything. I also find that every people has their own taste in design. When one people likes one design, there is a higher chance that the other person would dislike it. Therefore, I learn to not be too critical of my own work since there would be people who like them and others may not.
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