From cartoons to crochet, stop-motion to 3D models, Emily Gosling reveals the secrets to strong character design
IF the heart of any creative project is communication and storytelling. Whether that’s something as intangible as a wordless comic strip, a single illustrated figure conveying an emotion, a TV ad telling us to buy something, or a government campaign poster advising us how best not to get run over, characters can be a powerful tool to bring that story to life.
Today, we’re more familiar with – and bombarded by – character design than ever. The jolly green giants and sponge bobs of yesteryear are no longer the preserve of big ad agencies or professional image-makers, thanks to the democratization of software and proliferation of free tools.
Lars Denicke and Peter Thaler have been running the Pictoplasma festival for character design for the past 15 years, and over that time Denicke says he’s seen a huge change in the way illustration and character design have become a “stronger voice” in our wider visual landscape.
According to Denicke, part of the reason for starting the Pictoplacharacter Face-off contest.SMA was in reaction to the “terrible, vulgar” animation style of the time, as he puts it. “Now, as a genre, character design is everywhere: gaming culture is huge, and editorial illustration has changed so much. The image is not just there to illustrate an article; people like Christoph Niemann, Jean Jullien and laura Callaghan are telling the story just through an image. That’s changed the way they’re pitching and how they’re briefed, too.”
Denne historien er fra June 2019-utgaven av Computer Arts - UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 2019-utgaven av Computer Arts - UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Creative Space
Without’s creative director roly grant on the studio’s hand-crafted ethos
studio profile
A leading light in the branding industry, Wolff Olins wants to harness its scale to help change the world
network
THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER LIKE NEVER BEFORE, TO HELP EACH OTHER GET THROUGH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
project
ethos for 305 Fitness - Learn how the Montreal identity design studio rebranded one of America’s hottest fitness clubs
rebrand
WHAT’S THE EXPERT OPINION ON PENTAGRAM’S BRAND IDENTITY REFRESH OF THE GLOBAL TOY COMPANY FISHER-PRICE?
opinion
CRAIG BLACK HAS SOME ADVICE FOR SURVIVING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS AS AN INDEPENDENT CREATIVE
fresh eyes
DUNCAN BRAZZIL ON HOW THE UK INSPIRED HIS CAREER
artist insight
Cindy Kang on how photography informs her illustration work
ANIMATION NOW
LEADING PRODUCERS AND FILMMAKERS REFLECT ON EMERGING TRENDS AND SHARE THEIR PREDICTIONS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
Project: Atoll by Studio Myerscough
Morag Myerscough reveals how she and Luke Morgan designed a vibrant biophilic installation in a central London office tower studiomyerscough.com