FYP 01 - Apprentice Librarian Concepts

Final Year Project
Semester 01

Self-Set Brief: 

Concept 3 characters. Create 1 turnaround, 1 movement sheet and 1 illustration for each character.

Setting is a mix of Ottoman and Thai, with an alchemical flare.

The Apprentice Librarian - Concepts
Like the Surgeon and the Acolyte, I wanted a non-combative character, but one that could still serve a useful purpose in a game. The Surgeon plays a medic role, the Acolyte a stealth role, and the Apprentice Librarian plays the role of an informant during the ransacking of the palace by invaders.

Initial silhouettes made with a calligraphy marker.

Developing silhouettes digitally - combining Ottoman and Thai influence. Finding a balance between a high-status career without the librarian actually looking regal was a fun challenge.

Exploring the face, combining Thai and Turkish facial structures and exploring hairstyles. I knew from the get-go that I wanted more of an aloof and serious personality for the librarian.

Refining the design down with finer details.

Playing around with colour palettes. I found it difficult to find the balance between giving her a high station, but not royalty, and also keeping that Eastern European/Asian feel.

Movement/action sketches.

Illustration thumbnails, some exploring everyday life, some looking into relationships with the other characters, and some showing scenes of the palace/library being sacked by invaders.

During a progress presentation it was noted that the silhouette was too plain, so I returned to exploratory sketches to try and push the design further.

Just a few of the designs I concepted to explore more interesting silhouettes. 

Colour palettes for the new design - again this was a balancing act.

The final design (in greyscale), with references/influential images.