Character Design-Task 1: Personification

Character Design-Task 1: Personification

22/09/2025 - 26/10/2025  / Week 1 –  Week 5

Valenz Jycee Primadi / 0373407
Character Design / Creative Media / School of Design 
Task 1

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Lectures

2. Instructions

3. Proposal

5.Feedback

6. Reflection

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INSTRUCTION

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LECTURE

Fig1.1 Lecture 

Task 1- Personification

Reference and Studies

For this first week, we were introduced to the world of character design by Sir Fitri, where we learned about world exploration. After listening to Sir Fitri's lecture, we were tasked with creating a character based on a world of our choosing. I chose the mobile game Honor of Kings. Below is a breakdown of my character.

Fig 2.1 Honor Of Kings Game

Honor of Kings is a mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game created by Tencent's TiMi Studio, the same developer behind Pokémon Unite and Call of Duty: Mobile. The game is most popular in China, with over 100 million daily players, and also has a global version called Arena of Valor (though the international version has a slightly different story and hero lineup).

Because I was inspired by the game Honor of Kings, which is based on a Chinese game, I chose the qilin, a mythical Chinese creature that symbolizes prosperity, peace, and devotion, as my own character. I was also inspired by two characters in the game, Kaizer and Augran.

Fig 2.2 Character Inspiration

After that, I learned more about the characteristics of Qilin and also the characters from Honor of Kings to help me in creating my character.

Fig 2.3 Silhoutte Studies

Fig 2.4 Character Studies

After that, I learned about fashion and accessories for the character. For the fashion itself, I wanted traditional Chinese clothing, namely hanfu, but because my character is half Chinese and half Russian, I wanted to give it a little European element, namely armor.

Fig 2.5 Fashion Outfit for The Character

Before executing my character's outfit, I did some outfit studies of several HOK characters, to show me what their outfit characteristics are like in the game, I did an outfit breakdown for every character.

Fig 2.6 Outfit Studies

Below are some of the accessories I'm using for my character. These accessories are traditional Chinese outfits to represent Chinese culture. I'll also be using face accessories for my character.

Fig 2.7 Face Accessories

Fig 2.8 Outfit Accessories

My Character Design

After doing a lot of research and learning about the HOK and Qilin games to traditional Chinese clothing, I started to execute my character in the form of a silhouette, what it would look like. I first did a variation design.

Fig 3.1 Thumbnail Sketches

When I was consulting for character design, there were several feedbacks given by Sir Fitri, first for the Qilin character, if possible, use fish scales on the clothes instead of armor, then he also said that my character is more suitable with sleeves, and also that it is possible to adjust the clothes more so that it looks more traditional, and he prefers the fifth design variation.

I agree with the fifth design because in my opinion, the fifth variation design shows the gallantry, the characteristics of HOK and Qilin, and elegance, so for the final design variation I chose the 5th one. Originally, I liked the third design at first but went back because it was sleeveless so it didn't show elegance.

Final Turn Around

Fig 4.1 Final Turnaround Lineart 

Fig 4.2 Final Turnaround With Shadow

Presentation Slides for Personification Character

Proposal by Mikanoch10

Fig 5.1 Presentation Slide Personification

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REFLECTION

Experience

This character design experiment allowed me to learn a great deal, especially about identifying and developing strong character traits from a self-selected theme. Initially, choosing a suitable theme and defining the character’s core concept was challenging, as there were many possibilities to explore. However, through extensive research, the ideation process became clearer and more manageable. I also learned the importance of considering how a character can appeal to an international market by balancing originality, visual clarity, and global trends. Another challenge was determining the character’s background and initial development, which required careful thought to ensure consistency between the character’s story and visual design. Overall, this experiment strengthened my ability to conduct research, develop ideas systematically, and create characters with both creative and market-oriented considerations.

Observations

During the character design experiment, I observed that the process was not linear and required a lot of trial and error, especially at the beginning when the theme and core idea of the character were still unclear. At first, it was difficult to decide what direction the character should take, and many ideas felt disconnected. However, after conducting more research and collecting references, the concept gradually became clearer and easier to develop. I also noticed that characters with clear traits, such as a strong silhouette, consistent visual elements, and a defined personality, were more engaging and easier to refine. Another observation was that thinking about an international market influenced many design choices, particularly in terms of simplicity and visual readability. Defining the character’s background and starting point was also challenging, but once these aspects were established, the design felt more intentional and cohesive. Overall, the experiment showed that challenges and uncertainty are a natural part of the character design process and often lead to stronger results through continuous revision and reflection.

Findings

The findings from this character design experiment show that a strong character concept is built through research-driven exploration rather than instant ideas. The experiment found that initial confusion in choosing a theme is a common and necessary part of the creative process, as it encourages deeper research and more thoughtful decision-making. Characters with clear visual traits, such as readable silhouettes and consistent design elements, were found to be more effective and engaging. The findings also indicate that defining a character’s background and motivation early helps guide visual decisions and reduces inconsistencies during development. Additionally, considering international market appeal influenced the simplification of forms and improved overall visual clarity. Overall, the experiment found that character design is an iterative process where challenges and revisions play a crucial role in producing a cohesive and market-relevant character.