Illustration and Visual Narrative - Task 1: Character Design

21/4/2025-12/5/2025 (Week 1- Week 4) 

Choong Yee Leng || 0381980

 Illustration and Visual Narrative|| bachelor's degree in creative media || Taylor’s University 

Task 1: Character Design

---

Documentation

Final Output

Character 1: Meraki

Character 2: Florin

Character 3: Sakura

Techniques applied

Adobe Illustrator techniques

• Converting straight lines into curved lines using the Alt key
• Removing unused outlines using the Shape Builder Tool
• Adjusting the thickness of outlines using the Width Tool
• Filling colour using Live Paint tool
• create a more natural highlight effect using Overlay blending mode
• create a light effect using Gaussian blur effect

Reflection

In this assignment, I had the opportunity to explore and practice using the Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator, which was a completely new experience for me. Despite the initial learning curve, it turned out to be a fun and engaging task where I could express my creativity by designing original characters and placing them in their own unique settings.

One key takeaway from this project was the importance of research and referencing. As someone new to character design, looking at existing artworks helped me understand how others use elements like color schemes, shapes, and details to make their characters iconic and visually appealing. It gave me insights into how subtle choices can significantly affect the overall personality and visual impact of a design.

Looking back, there are definitely areas I can improve on. For instance, I could enhance the character's uniqueness by adding more distinct and meaningful elements. For example, for my character Sakura, incorporating petal motifs or other floral features could have reinforced her identity and made her more memorable. Adding such thoughtful details would help the character stand out while deepening her connection to her name and theme.