How do you design characters?

[cookieroach]

What is your process when designing a new character? I'm talking about the visuals, like clothes and physical appearance (not their personality and backstory).

Do you have specific steps you follow, or is it more experimental? Where do you get inspiration and ideas from?

I don't really have a "process" myself, but I try to think about their personality and make the design as simple as possible. I also think it's important to try to vary the cast, so the characters stand out from each other.

[yohainis2655]

well .. my way of designing a character is by looking at his personality and tastes. This is how I start creating them. then according to her personality will be her way of dressing. and the hair style well ... I improvise it.

[Legendofgenii]

I find this quite tricky actually.

When I first started I went for really bright colours, crazy hair styles, face markings (for no reason at all) and weird outfits (flip flops and camo shorts!? lol!). Then I stepped back and realised that wasn't really the feel I was going for at all. I wanted them to look a bit more serious to reflect the actual story.

Old: Triangle nose and weird feet. What was I thinking!?

New: Less is better I think (I hope!? Sometimes I worry I'm making them boring. ). Lost the face stripes, crazy hair style and he has normal feet under those boots now. The clothes/armour need to be light weight. Poncho because a traditional cape would get in the way. Leggings because he's a stretchy little dude. Boots because they walk A LOT, and usually through woodland and muddy places (again - what was I thinking with the flip flops).

I'm trying to give the world a medieval vibe, so clothes, hair styles and weapons etc. will be along those lines - but as it's not set in our world I have a bit of a leeway I suppose.

Practicality wise - I had to rethink some outfits. For some reason (in an earlier attempt) I had most of the females in skimpy or pretty outfits, which might have looked nice or whatever - but could they really spend a week in the woods in those clothes!? And did they actually reflect the characters wearing them (no was the answer).

Old:

New:

Old: Boobies about to jump out, and some sort of crazy hair going on.

New: Still (hopefully) sexy & intimidating (I mostly do that with her body language now), but the boobs are at bay, new hair style and she'll be a bit warmer at night. I kept the green as (unlike original Gen) she does want to be camouflaged sometimes. No shoes as the Aamami do have paws for feet and need them out for speed (they are a type of Hare).

I'd say the ladies designs are the trickiest actually because they are strong characters and I want them to be taken seriously.

[cookieroach]

Yes definitely that's an important part. Sometimes I have to stop myself when I give them clothes that I like myself, but I know they would never wear that. I think it's important to stay true to their personality.

[cookieroach]

Oh it's really cool to see the before and after. Your newer designs seem more mature and realistic. When first starting out, I think it's common to fall for common tropes (like cool features, random clothes and skimpy clothes for the girls), but as you grow as an artist your designs will get better.

(Love the flip flops though )

[Kelheor]

I create characters on a whim, but I guess I have a few steps I follow.
First question: what is their occupation? Are they a high school student, a merchant, a fire mage, a traveler?
This one is actually the main, after that you are just thinking it through.

Second: what is their personality? Here comes the color palette, choice of details.

Third: what is their background? Things like if the clothes are new, how their wardrobe is limited, if they have some special items with them.
I made some design changes for a few characters after thinking them through a bit, like Washuu here is a priestess and a daugher of a noble family, so her having such plain clothes in the beginning had a little sense. Instead she looks much more flashy and out of place (as she should), has clothes and items suited for a gal of her status. This will change too as time goes on and she loses this sheen, so this before-after will basically switch places =)

[DasIstWunderblyat]

• Design the character by synthesizing. Basically it is amalgamation of everything that I found appealing by itself or when put together. Visual inspiration and ideas are very much needed.
• After I finally made or decided a story, personality, and background for them, I match the idea with design I have had. Usually it is toning down the details and making it more plain/realistic according to their role in the story.
  In my series, culture plays an important role. That way, I try to design them according to culture they belong.
• Final adjustment to make it more visually appealing while still true to the story.

Along with art and story development, the design also develops. You might won't like design you made 1 year ago and it might not fit with your current story/art.

Most notable thing I change his physical appearance. It is because the decision to make the story more realistic and a village boy won't have access to bleach and purple hair dye while keeping his skin pale while working in the fields under the mountain sun.

Note these are fancy clothes he probably wear once a year. I changed his outer-vest thingy because it looks weird and replace them with jewelry instead. The headdress is revised. I kept the gloves overall shape. I also developed the patterns.
The lizard was made into soup in the chapter 2 of the series

He also got more new outfits!

[Puck]

I´m illustrating the book of my brother right now and it plays in our hometown in a medieval setting.
I take the inspiration for the clothes from different painting from that time and from prints from that time.
A famous printmaker lived in my hometown in the medieval times, that´s perfect reference for authentic clothes, hairstyles etc

[CarltonIsaac]

[cassidybueter]

I studied animation in college, so I have a very cartoony style. For me, it all starts with basic shapes.

[cookieroach]

Seems like a logical process to start with their occupation followed by their personality and background. Really nice art also, it's so fun to see the before and after and hear your thought process!

[cookieroach]

I love that you've put so much thought detail into the clothes, really cool design! It makes me want to know more about the history and culture of that world!

[cookieroach]

@Puck It's really nice to take inspiration from real life and history, I think it makes the design more unique (instead of just basing it on the same media your designing it for)

@cassidybueter I also like thinking about the simple shapes a lot. Circles for cute and bubbly characters, aggressive characters are more "pointy" etc.

[WhoDrew]

@cookyroach

Well what I normally do is come up with a rough image and personality for my character, then create a mood board of various reference images that help serve as influence/inspiration for my design.

After that I start sketching thumbnail concepts for my character until I come up with a character design that I like.

[cookieroach]

Ohh a mood board is a really good idea for getting more inspiration! I want to try that myself and see how it goes!

[TheGentleArtist]

I design mine through their personality and/or aesthetics that fits them as a whole.That, and some experimenting with different clothes designs and what not.

[WhoDrew]

Best of luck with that @cookyroach.

Can't wait to see what you'll come up with

[BrambleberrySquirrel]

My process is definitely experimental. I pick a color pallet I think goes with their personality. Then I do a bunch of doodles and basic sketches before I pick one I like. Even then I’m willing to change things slightly as time goes by in my comic. It’s not unusual for people to get different haircuts or change up their clothes in real life. So I don’t set things like that in stone forever.

[AkaneHayashi]

Things I consider when designing a character are mostly where they live, what they do and how they want people to see them. Sometimes I create characters based on an aesthetic, so I kinda have an image of them before I even start fleshing out the details about their lives.

Then I do sketches to experiment with colors and such... Finding the best colors is the most challenging part for me ;u;

[cookieroach]

@Golden_Acorn yes it's fun to let characters change with time. For me it also takes the pressure off, because it doesn't have to be perfect from the start, I can always fix a design later if I don't like it.

@AkaneHayashi Yep colors are hard... sometimes I spend so long thinking about what colors to use, then remind myself my comic is in greyscale