How To Get Out of the Character Design Rut and Get the Most Interesting Look for Your Character
Design is a hard process. We all know that. As designers, we are constantly dreaming up ways of presenting something in an eye-catching way. For animators and illustrators, that challenge will often come into play when faced with the task of designing a cool character. Who is it? What role do they play? Who will be watching this character in action, and how do I create a design that appeals to them?
These questions can be overwhelming, but regardless, the key is to always create a character that visually stands out. If they are the center of the action, then that’s doubly important, because nobody will root for a character that blends in. Think of Spongebob Squarepants, for instance. If he were a plain looking sponge with no distinctive features, would he be the iconic character that he is today? I don’t think so. Even simple character designs, such as Roger Hargreaves’ Mr. Men characters, have something about them that makes them instantly recognizable and (usually) likable.
Then the challenge becomes: how do I create a character that stands out? And how do I create this character in such a way that it will stand out to my target audience?
Here are some tips to help you overcome fear of the blank page when designing your characters:
1.) Draw random stuff, even if it has nothing to do with your character.
Too plain Jane, but we’ll fix it!
That’s right! To get that 1% inspiration, you have to let your mind run wild! Forget about your character as you do this, and I can guarantee that you will eventually form some mental connections that you will incorporate into your final character design. For this, you will need your sketchbook, and a whole lot of imagination! Nothing is off the table, because remember: the key here is to oil the creative joints!
Out of the randomness, a star is born!
2.) Alternatively, you may already have an idea for your character, but there’s still an opportunity for refinement!
Who’s walkin’ on air specifically?
Drawing random stuff is a good strategy to use if you are low on inspiration and your character falls flat. But what if you already have some sort of idea what your character should look like? It doesn’t hurt to keep drawing random versions of the character, and then you’ll get one of two results: either you will arrive at a version you are happy with, or you will find yourself incorporating different traits from your random sketches to come up with the perfect character design. Either way, never stop refining your design.
Just a side note: if you would like to turbo-charge your creativity, I have prepared a book of 29 wild, weird, and wacky drawing prompts for your creative enjoyment. You can get it by signing up for my email list, where you will also receive regular updates on my work, as well as articles like this one, right in your inbox! It’s easy, it’s free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
3.) Does the character work for your purposes? Draw it in different poses and you’ll find out.
Looks good to me!
Pose your character in whatever ways you expect to be posing them in your finished product. Do the designs work at a practical level? Are some poses less limber than others? Are there some poses where the limbs and features are too big, too small, too long, or too short? Then it’s back to the drawing table, where you will fix those elements so that you know they’ll work in your finished product.
Were these tips and tricks helpful? Did you get some use out of them? Sound off in the comments below! And if you have any character designs of your own to share, feel free to link to those so I can critique them.
See you next time!