Mechanical Character Design with Joe Peterson

Description

In this tutorial, concept designer Joe Peterson breaks down the process of creating a mechanical character using only a story outline as the starting point. With the initial premise being a believable sci-fi future world, Joe sets out to design an appropriate mechanized unit for a high-tech SWAT team. He begins by discussing how this initial idea influences the entire design process, beginning with reference gathering and following all the way to the final detailing and rendering phases. Joe demonstrates how, once a level of technology is decided on, the appearance and features of the mechanics are much easier to design. Throughout the tutorial, he discusses the balance between using imagination over using real-world design elements and the importance of building up a visual design vocabulary to help make informed design choices, leading to appropriate mechanical designs. By walking through every step, from initial sketch, to refinement, detailing and final rendering, Joe shows his process of balancing imaginative features with real-world design to deliver a convincing, yet unique and creative mechanical design. He also discusses how to frame your mechanical design around the needs of the story or setting, ensuring that the context will help drive your creative decisions along the way. This tutorial offers various techniques and processes for creating and refining a mechanical design that is intended to not only look cool, but also communicate its function at a glance.

Duration: 3h 20m

Format: HD 1280x720

Lessons

00. Preview

01. Plan and Reference

02. Rough Sketch

03. Adding Limbs

04. Mechanical Details

05. Bringing the Sketch Together

06. Refining the Sketch

07. Adding Modules

08. Adding More Modules

09. Basic Colors and Shading

10. Beginning Details and Cleanup

11. Changing Colors and Additional Detail

12. Ammo Belt Detail

13. Additional Cleanup and Refinement

14. Proportion Check and Final Tweaks

15. Decals and Stickers

16. Finishing Touches