Unit Six
This capstone unit brings together everything students have learned in Year 1. Building on drawing fundamentals, concept art, modeling basics, and animation, students will design a complete character package. The project includes a turnaround sheet, mood board, and written notes describing personality, backstory, and role in their game world.
Topics Covered
- Principles of character design: silhouette, shape language, and appeal
- Anatomy basics and proportion for characters
- Costumes, props, and visual storytelling through design
- Creating turnarounds (front, side, back views)
- Building mood boards to communicate tone and style
- Writing character bios and narrative connections
Assignments
Learning Report
Objectives
- Apply silhouette and shape language in character design
- Use anatomy and proportion to design believable characters
- Create polished turnarounds for clarity in 3D modeling
- Compile a mood board to capture tone, setting, and style
- Write a character bio connecting design choices to narrative
Materials
- Drawing tools: sketchbook or digital tablet
- Reference images for anatomy, costumes, and props
- Canva, Photoshop, or Krita for compiling design docs
- Portfolio site for final submission
Assessment
Students are evaluated on the completeness and polish of their Character Design Document. The final must include a turnaround sheet, a mood board, and written notes. Professional presentation and reflection in the portfolio are required.
Activities
Students create silhouettes and studies, sketch anatomy and costumes, and draft a turnaround. They compile mood boards with visual references, then finalize everything into a professional Character Design Document for their portfolio.
Education Standards
The following standards are drawn from the 2024 AME Industry Skills Framework:
- 1.4 — Apply principles of art, design, and composition to creative works
- 2.2 — Correctly use industry-appropriate terminology
- 10.2 — Use research and imagery to generate design ideas
- 10.3 — Visualize concepts using sketches, turnarounds, and storyboards
- 10.7 — Develop an artist’s statement describing process and challenges
- 17.3 — Apply principles of character design and development to creative projects