What steps do you take to research and gather inspiration for your character designs?

Sample answer to the question

When researching and gathering inspiration for my character designs, I usually start by immersing myself in the genre or theme of the project. I watch movies, read books, and play video games that are relevant to the style and atmosphere I want to achieve. This helps me understand the existing visual language and identify unique and interesting features that I can incorporate into my designs. I also browse through art books, visit art galleries, and explore online art communities to discover new techniques and trends. Additionally, I like to create mood boards and collect references for inspiration. By combining all these sources of inspiration, I can create well-rounded and captivating character designs.

A more solid answer

To research and gather inspiration for my character designs, I take a multi-step approach. Firstly, I immerse myself in the genre or theme of the project by consuming relevant media such as movies, books, and video games. This allows me to understand the existing visual language and identify unique features to incorporate into my designs. Secondly, I actively seek out resources such as art books, online art communities, and galleries to discover new techniques and trends. I also create mood boards and collect references to inform my design decisions. Additionally, I pay close attention to anatomy and motion to ensure accurate and believable portrayals of the characters. I conduct research on human anatomy and study references to ensure my designs are anatomically correct and fluid in their movements. Finally, I prioritize attention to detail and consistency by creating character sheets and model packs that serve as a reference for myself and the production team. This helps maintain consistency throughout the project and ensures that the characters evolve cohesively. By combining research, attention to detail, and knowledge of anatomy, I am able to create compelling and authentic character designs.

Why this is a more solid answer:

The solid answer expands upon the basic answer by providing more specific details of the candidate's research process, including how they incorporate their research into their designs and how they ensure accuracy and consistency in their work. It also emphasizes the importance of anatomy and motion in character design, which aligns with the job description's requirement for knowledge of anatomy and the ability to maintain consistency in character designs.

An exceptional answer

Researching and gathering inspiration for my character designs is a deeply immersive process that involves various steps. Firstly, I delve into the project's genre or theme by extensively consuming relevant media, including movies, books, and video games. However, I don't passively watch or play; I actively analyze the visual language, character archetypes, and storytelling techniques employed. I take detailed notes, identifying unique design elements that I can explore and experiment with in my own work. Additionally, I engage with other artists and designers through online communities, attending conventions, and participating in art workshops. This allows for cross-pollination of ideas and learning from diverse perspectives. To ensure anatomical accuracy, I study human and animal anatomy extensively, referencing scientific literature and observing real-life subjects. I also utilize motion capture and study human movement to infuse my characters with lifelike motion. Consistency in character designs is achieved through meticulous documentation and collaboration with the production team. I create detailed character sheets and model packs, ensuring every aspect of the design is accurately captured. I actively seek feedback from directors, producers, and clients to refine and polish my designs. By incorporating deep research, attention to detail, and collaboration, I create character designs that are visually stunning, authentic, and resonate with the audience.

Why this is an exceptional answer:

The exceptional answer goes above and beyond by providing more specific details of the candidate's research process, including how they actively analyze and take notes on the media they consume for inspiration. It also showcases the candidate's commitment to continuous learning and improvement by engaging with other artists and designers. The answer demonstrates a deep understanding of anatomy and motion by referencing scientific literature and motion capture. Additionally, the answer highlights the candidate's meticulous approach to maintaining consistency in character designs through detailed documentation and collaboration with the production team, as well as actively seeking feedback for improvement.

How to prepare for this question

Familiarize yourself with various genres and themes by consuming relevant media such as movies, books, and video games. Analyze the visual language, character archetypes, and storytelling techniques employed.
Engage with other artists and designers through online communities, conventions, and workshops to learn from diverse perspectives and expand your creative horizons.
Study human and animal anatomy extensively to ensure anatomical accuracy in your character designs. Utilize scientific literature and observe real-life subjects.
Experiment with motion capture and study human movement to infuse your characters with lifelike motion.
Create detailed character sheets and model packs to maintain consistency in your character designs. Collaborate closely with the production team and actively seek feedback for improvement.

What interviewers are evaluating

Knowledge of anatomy and motion for accurate character portrayal
Attention to detail and ability to maintain consistency in character designs