Midterm
Focus: Visual storytelling, drawing fundamentals, and concept design.
Task: Build on the skills from Units 2–3 to produce a polished concept art package for a prop or environment in your game world.
Tip
You are not graded on artistic polish. What matters is how clearly you communicate your design so another student could model it without needing to ask for more details.
Steps to Completion
Step 1 — Research & References
Collect visual references for props or environments that inspire your design.
Cite your sources — missing references will lose points.
Step 2 — Sketches & Thumbnails
Produce at least 10–15 quick sketches or thumbnails exploring different ideas.
Experiment with shape language, proportion, and silhouette.
Step 3 — Refined Concept Sheet
Choose your strongest design and refine it into a polished, readable sheet.
Include callouts, labels, and notes that explain design details.
Step 4 — Reflection
Write a short explanation (150–200 words) describing your design choices and how the piece fits into your game world.
Step 5 — Presentation
Create a single presentation board that combines your final art, references, and notes. Be prepared to share it with the class.
Deliverables
- Concept Art Sheet — sketches, thumbnails, and final polished design
- Written Reflection — design choices + connection to game world
- Presentation Board — final combined artifact for critique
Important
This midterm counts for 30% of your semester grade. Time management is critical in the creative industry — start early, meet milestones, and pace your work.
Rubric
| Criteria | Exceeds (100%) | Meets (85%) | Approaches (55%) | Does Not Meet (0%) | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research & References | Comprehensive, well-credited | Complete, clear context | Minimal variety, weak crediting | None | 10 |
| Sketches & Iterations | 15+ varied; strong readability | 10+ with variety | Limited exploration | <5 | 20 |
| Final Concept Sheet | Polished, labeled, portfolio-ready | Complete, mostly clear | Incomplete or rushed | None | 25 |
| Reflection | Insightful, thoughtful | Clear, basic explanation | Vague or minimal | None | 10 |
| Presentation | Confident, clear, process explained | Complete, legible | Weak or incomplete | None | 10 |
| Professional Practices | Organized files, correct naming, sources credited | Minor issues | Frequent errors | None | 5 |
Total Value: 80