Character Design | Tasks Compilation
Gao Yuan Yi 0373945
PRJ62204 Character Design / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Task 1 Personafication
Task 2 Character Design Development
Task 3 Character Design Execution
Task 4 Portfolio
INSTRUCTION
Task 1 Personafication
In Task1, I focused on laying the foundational groundwork for my character, Aegira, the Queen of the Abyssal Tides. I defined her core identity: a Hydro-aligned guardian from the mysterious seabed of Atlantis, with a calm and wise personality, tasked with protecting her underwater realm. I crafted her backstory, detailing how she grew up resonating with the ocean's songs, claimed the trident of royal authority through a communion of will, and later balanced her rule over the deep with a fascination for the surface world. Additionally, I outlined her key skills—Tide-Singing Echo, Trident of the Sea King, and Judgment of the Raging Tide—and her weapon, the Abyssal Tides trident. This task was crucial as it set the narrative and thematic direction for all subsequent work.
Task 2 Character Design Development
In Task2, building on Task 1, I dived deeper into visualizing Aegira. I created numerous pose sketches to capture her duality of serenity and strength, along with expression studies to reflect her wise demeanor. I broke down her default outfit into specific components like a necklace, cape, and bracelet, each incorporating oceanic motifs such as coral and shells to tie back to her underwater origins. I also designed a Christmas-themed alternative outfit, ensuring it maintained aquatic elements while adding festive touches. For her weapon, I developed detailed sketches and turnaround silhouettes to refine the trident's design, emphasizing its connection to the ocean. This task helped me align visual elements with her established narrative, creating a cohesive look.
Task 3 Character Design Execution
In Task 3, I focused on translating Aegira's essence into a single impactful image: the splash art. Given her Hydro alignment, I chose blue as the main color tone and integrated water and ocean elements to reinforce her connection to the sea. I explored various hero poses to find one that best conveyed her role as a guardian, balancing authority and harmony. After refining multiple sketches, I finalized the splash art to encapsulate her presence, merging elements of her underwater realm with hints of her curiosity about the surface. This task taught me the importance of visual storytelling in condensing a character's core into a single piece.
Task 4 Portfolio
In Task 4, I integrated and refined all previous work to create a comprehensive design. I developed turnaround sketches for both her default and Christmas-themed outfits, ensuring consistency in silhouette and details from all angles. I solidified her color scheme, selecting tones that reflected the deep sea and shallow waters. I also refined her weapon design and created hero pose studies to enhance her presence. Additionally, I included elements like a Character Event Wish section, aligning her with a game-like context while maintaining her core identity. This task brought all elements together, ensuring the design was polished and adaptable across different contexts.
REFLECTION
This semester's character design journey, spanning four interconnected tasks, has been a profound exploration of translating a conceptual idea into a fully realized character—from a fleeting spark of inspiration to a detailed, cohesive entity. Through Tasks 1 to 4, I witnessed my creation, Aegira, the Queen of the Abyssal Tides, evolve from a basic premise into a character with depth, personality, and visual consistency, and this process has deepened my understanding of character design as a holistic craft.
Task 1: Laying the Foundation—Conceptualization and Core Identity
Task 1 marked the birth of Aegira. Focused on personification, this task required defining her core identity within a broader world. Drawing inspiration from Norse mythology (Ægir, the sea god) and the aquatic themes of Genshin Impact, I established her as a Hydro-aligned guardian of Atlantis, with roots in the mysterious seabed.
I spent significant time crafting her backstory: a girl who ''heard the ocean's song'' from childhood, destined not to rule but to be the sea's voice. This narrative choice became the anchor for her personality—calm, wise, and deeply connected to her environment—shaping every subsequent design decision. Defining her skills (Tide-Singing Echo, Trident of the Sea King) and weapon (Abyssal Tides, a trident forged by the ocean's will) early on ensured her abilities aligned with her role as a protector, not a conquero.
Task 2: Developing the Visual Language—Details and Cohesion
Building on Task 1, Task 2 focused on refining Aegira's visual identity through sketches and studies. I explored poses that reflected her duality—serene yet powerful—capturing moments of communion with the sea or quiet curiosity about the surface world. Expression studies emphasized her calm wisdom, with soft yet determined features to mirror her personality.
Her outfit design became a key focus: I incorporated oceanic elements like coral-inspired patterns, shell-shaped armor, and flowing fabrics resembling tides, ensuring each piece (necklace, cape, bracelet) told a story of her underwater home. Even the alternative Christmas theme outfit maintained this cohesion, blending festive elements (subtle red accents) with aquatic motifs (frosted ''sea crystal'' details).
Weapon design was another milestone. The trident, ''Abyssal Tides,'' was visualized with abyssal sea crystal prongs and an ocean-blue gem (a nod to the sea god Ægir), making it both a weapon and a symbol of her connection to the deep. This task reinforced that every visual detail should serve the character's narrative—nothing is arbitrary.
Task 3: Bringing It to Life—Splash Art as a Narrative Tool
Task 3 shifted to visual storytelling through splash art, a critical step in translating Aegira's essence into a single impactful image. Given her Hydro alignment, I chose blue as the primary tone, weaving in waves, coral, and light refraction to evoke the underwater world she governs.
Exploring hero poses helped me capture her role: a stance that balances authority (trident raised) with harmony (gentle waves curling around her), reflecting her strength in ''understanding'' rather than domination. The final sketch merged these elements, placing her in a coral palace with sunlight filtering through the waves—symbolizing her bridge between the deep and the surface.
This task taught me that splash art is more than a portrait; it's a condensed story. Every color, pose, and background element must work together to communicate the character's core at a glance.
Task 4: Polishing and Expansion—Consistency Across Contexts
Task 4 was about refining and expanding Aegira's design for versatility. I created turnaround sketches for her default and Christmas outfits, ensuring consistency in silhouette and details from every angle. Color scheme studies solidified her palette: deep blues (abyssal depths), aquamarines (shallow waters), and hints of pearl white (her connection to surface gifts).
I also explored how she might appear in-game, from expression variations to hero poses, ensuring her design translated seamlessly into interactive contexts. Even the ''Character Event Wish'' details (probability mechanics, exclusive availability) grounded her in the Genshin Impact framework, showing how character design intersects with gameplay.
This task highlighted the importance of adaptability—great character design works across mediums, from sketches to in-game models, without losing its core identity.
Growth and Takeaways
Over the semester, I've learned that character design is a balancing act: between narrative and visuals, consistency and creativity, depth and accessibility. Aegira's evolution—from a name and backstory to a fully realized character with cohesive abilities, aesthetics, and context—taught me that every decision, no matter how small, should trace back to her core: a guardian who listens, understands, and bridges two worlds.
I've also grown in technical skill: from rough sketches to polished turnarounds, from color theory to narrative-driven composition. But most importantly, I've learned to view characters as living entities—each with a unique voice that must resonate through every aspect of their design.
As I move forward, I'll carry this lesson: a great character isn't just designed—they're believed in. And in Aegira, I've created someone I'm proud to believe in.
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