Chapter 1 - The Fundamentals of Character Design
IN THIS LESSON
We’ll lay the groundwork for strong character design by focusing on thorough research and repeated iteration. You’ll learn how to move beyond vague, half-formed ideas and begin building designs with clear structure, distinctive personality, and intentional purpose. This is where your character truly starts becoming real.
As we progress, you’ll understand how to incorporate feedback effectively, which will enhance your characters further and bring them to life in a way that feels authentic and engaging. This is where your character starts to transform from an abstract idea into a real and relatable figure, ready to inhabit their own world and resonate with your audience. By the end of this process, you will have the skills not just to create, but to innovate in your character design endeavors.
Some tools to help you in this process could be:
thesaurus.com — a dictionary to help you in the process of brainstorming keywords.
I recommend avoiding AI tools for research. You want a character that you design, from your perception of the world, not what the collective conscious thinks is a good character, but what you think is a good character, is what we are after.