Using Subculture to Design Original Sci-Fi Characters

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Sci-Fi Character Concept Art.

Character design needs a soul to feel real and help people connect.

In this behind-the-scenes page, you’ll see how I used ideas like subcultures, graffiti, and spirituality to build that soul.
I kept the outfits practical and easy to recognize, while adding some originality on top. I didn’t want them to feel like inside jokes only I got. It was important that we all could recognize the features, but they still needed to look bold and unique.

All of this work has been art directed, creative directed and concepted by myself. The sketches, 3D modeling and renders, were also done by me, Miguel Nogueira.

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Awards: Behance Character Design, CGSociety Hall of Fame, 80lv.

Organizing Ideas for Sci-Fi Concepts

One thing I try to ask myself a lot is, 'Where is the emotion?'

I use tools like persona profiles and mind maps to link and merge ideas.

When I use a mind map, I can see the whole project, which helps me find ideas to combine.

For example, if I'm designing a sci-fi character who is introverted and also an assassin, I write those traits in different branches. Then I start seeing connections. I might give them a hoodie and a mask; the hoodie makes them feel safe, and the mask helps hide their identity. It matches both who they are and what they do. This makes it feel like they’ve evolved to wear these over the course of their life, that’s what I like to design, someone who could actually exist.

Reference for Sci-Fi Character Design

It's almost a religious act now to avoid looking at other concept artists' work when I'm creating something new. I've gotten so used to this method that being influenced by someone else's final product makes the process harder for me.

When designing robots, I look at the latest from Boston Dynamics, Open Bionics, and ASIMO.
When designing dragons, I study bugs, lizards, and nature.

Art imitates life, and it's hard to design while looking through someone else's lens, trying to copy experiences that are theirs and which I haven't lived.

With my sci-fi character designs, most of them feature a robotic implant of some sort. Arms like these start from a free base mesh, a normal human arm, which I then sculpt on top by re-skinning it as hard-surface, and converting all the human joints, fingers, and bending parts into screws, pistons, and ball joints.

Essentially, I re-imagine the human body as a machine.

Many of my character concept art pieces include assets that I've rarely showcased individually.

The Results:
A Solid List of Sci-Fi Character Assets

Software used: Zbrush, Marvelous Designer, Photoshop, Keyshot.

By the end of this project, I delivered many different solutions for a concept art studio:

  • Functional 3D base mechanical designs.

  • Fashion design in Marvelous Designer with auto-generated UV maps, reducing production time for the 3D department.

  • Sci-fi graphics, decals and logos.

  • Marketing illustrations and concept art.

  • Newfound fundamentals of realistic character design, using elements from real people with the same vibe, social culture, and energy.

  • Well-rounded Sci-Fi Character Concept Art, where personality performs over pretty visuals.

Need help with any of those steps?

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