Where to Find Character Design Inspiration
Character design is an essential part of any story. Whether you’re writing a novel, creating a video game, or animating a movie, the characters you create will be the ones that your audience remembers. But coming up with creative and unique character designs can be a challenge. Here are some tips for finding character design inspiration.
Narrow Down Your Story First
Mapping out your story plan first is always the best place to start for character design inspiration. Knowing the context of the story and the roles of each character will help you to create a design that is appropriate for the story. Think about the character’s personality, motivations, and goals. This will help you to create a design that reflects the character’s personality and the story’s tone.
Use Human and Animal References
Using references from real life can be a great way to come up with character designs. Look at people and animals around you and draw inspiration from their features. For example, if you’re creating a character that is strong and brave, you might draw inspiration from a lion or a bull. Or if you’re creating a character that is wise and mysterious, you might draw inspiration from an owl or a snake.
Rely on Pinterest
Pinterest is a great resource for finding character design inspiration. You can search for specific characters or themes and find a wealth of ideas. Pinterest also has a great selection of artwork from other artists that can help to spark your creativity.
Be Inspired By the Greats
Take a look at some of the classic characters from literature, film, and television. See how the characters are designed and how they interact with each other. This can help you to come up with creative ideas for your own characters.
Look in Unlikely Places
Sometimes the best ideas come from unexpected places. Take a look at everyday objects and see if you can draw inspiration from them. For example, a chair might inspire you to create a character with a tall, slender body. Or a tree might inspire you to create a character with a wide, sturdy body.
Head to the Streets
Heading out into the world can be a great way to find character design inspiration. Take a look at the people around you and observe their mannerisms and body language. This can help you to create characters that feel more realistic and believable.
Start With What’s Familiar
Sometimes the best way to come up with character designs is to start with what you know. Think about people you know in real life and draw inspiration from their features. This can help you to create characters that feel more personal and unique.
Creating unique and creative character designs can be a challenge, but with these tips, you can find the inspiration you need to create characters that your audience will remember.
