Design Exploration | Final Project

22.9.2025 - 4.1.2026 || Week 1 - Week 14
Yong Zhen Xing || 0359473
Design Exploration || Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Final Project

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Contents

1. Instructions

2. Final Project

            Final Outcome

3. Project Management Document

4. Reflection

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Instructions

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Final Project

For design exploration, we are to create something that is related to our specialization (Graphic Design, Entertainment Design, UI/UX) to improve more our skills in that field and get us more ready for the industry.

The first that was needed before deciding on what we wanted to go for was researching on the industry that we specialized on. Afterwards we needed to propose on what we wanted to do. Below shows my proposal deck.

fig 1.1, Proposal Deck (6/10/2025)

Chosen Idea : 3 Different Character Poster designs with different theme/styles.

After the idea was approved by Mr.Asrizal, I proceeded with sketching the characters. First, I came up with a moodboard to get rough idea on what to add for a character. Each character moodboard has design, poses and accessories reference.

Character 1 Idea : Cyperpunk Character

fig 2.1, Character 1 Moodboard (25/10/2025)

 Character 2 Idea : New Survivor in the Risk of Rain 2 Universe

fig 2.2, Character 2 Moodboard (25/10/2025)

 Character 3 Idea : Battle Mage Character

fig 2.3, Character 3 Moodboard (25/10/2025)

After having a rough idea, I begin sketching a character which can be seen below.

fig 2.4, 3 Character Sketches (27/10/2025)

I was pretty happy with the first and third sketches but not so much on the second sketch. So I reworked it with a completely different concept. This time I chose to do a ghost hunter character. Below shows the moodboard and sketch which in my opinion looks much better.

fig 2.5, Updated Character 2 Moodboard (3/11/2025)

fig 2.6, Updated Character 2 Sketch (3/11/2025)

Over the weeks of doing the background design, character 3 also has the most change which can be seen below.

fig 2.7, Updated Character 3 Sketch (17/11/2025)

Next, I worked on the background designs for each character. These phase was mostly a trial and error phase as I see what works and what doesn't. I will show the updated moodboard for each character and then the full sketches for all character poster. (Click to Zoom in)

fig 3.1, Full Character 1 Moodboard (17/11/2025)

fig 3.2, Full Character 2 Moodboard (17/11/2025)

fig 3.3, Full Character 3 Moodboard (8/12/2025)

fig 3.4, 3 Character Poster Sketches (8/12/2025)

Next I added base colour for each of the poster. This also took along time as I experimented with what colour works and what doesn't.

fig 4.1, 3 Base Colour Character Posters (31/12/2025)

Then the rendering phase, I first render the characters first and then followed the background. I also ensured to consider the lighting sources. Character 1 and 3 was the most time consuming to render as it was a style I'm unfamiliar with.

fig 4.2, Character 1 Render (3/12/2025)

fig 4.3, Character 2 Render (3/12/2025)

fig 4.4, Character 3 Render (3/12/2025)

I also made a simple backstory for each characters as follows :

Character 1 - Kira Lilith

Kira is an assassin that lives in a dystopian futuristic world where she hunts people as part of her job. She is rewarded greatly for what she does which is how she is able to make a living. However she is also constantly wanted by the higher power.

Character 2 - Leo Ryder

Leo is a ghost hunter that likes going to abandoned/unrestricted areas to try to catch a ghost on camera. Most people call him crazy but he lives for the haunted atmosphere. While he is often unsuccessful, he hope to have proof of them for the public one day.

Character 3 - Aurelia Bell

Aurelia is a battle mage character that often engages in combat to defend her city. After defeating any threat or villain, she then uses her mask to collect their souls to gain more power. She is often known as “The Golden One” as she has never lost a single battle.

To make it feel like a character poster, I added the name into the poster as well. I tried to make sure it fits and doesn't feel out of place. Next, the final outcome will showcase this as well as the final render of each posters.

Final Outcome

fig 5.1, Kira Lilith Poster (4/1/2026)

fig 5.2, Leo Ryder Poster (4/1/2026)

fig 5.3, Aurelia Bell Poster (4/1/2026)

fig 5.4, Presentation Deck (4/1/2026)

fig 5.5, Video Presentation (4/1/2026)

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Project Management Document

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Reflection

This module have been the most fun and enjoyable module I had in making something in while as I get to make something that I'm really into and that is character designs. Not only that but it also helps me learn more on background design and layout composition. 

When I first started on industry research, I honestly thought it was going to be a pretty dreadful and boring module as 3D modelling is a pretty massive likely the mainshow that the industry wants. And because of that, it probably meant that I needed to do 3D modelling. But I didn't want to. After finishing my last semester with lots of 3D modelling, I wanted to take a step break from that and focus more on my technical drawing skills. And through more research, I found that I can likely just do the thing right before the 3D modelling part, the drawing part! To make it worth 14 weeks however, of course it needed to be something that will challenge me.

After the decision was set on 3 Poster Character designs however, it was just me enjoying the module throughout. With 4 other modules that I was taking, time was still a something to be kept tracked of however. But through every process whether it be character designing, background designing, colouring or rendering, I really enjoyed the process throughout. The hardest part of doing all of the poster was certainly the sketch phase as a lot of planning was needed, but afterwards it was really just experimenting with colours and rendering styles. This is one of those instances where the output came out right as I imagined it in my head and I love how it turned out. Doing something with passion definitely feels different than being forced. Overall, I have learned many things such as perspectives, rendering styles, colour matching and character designing, and I wish to carry these skills going forward when drawing more!

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