BECOME A CHARACTER DESIGNER

Missions, activities, skills, training

CHARACTER DESIGNER - JOB DESCRIPTION

Definition

A Character Designer envisions characters/creatures in 2D or 3D.

They employ artistic, narrative, semantic, and technical skills to breathe life into characters for films, video games, animations, and more.

Missions

Translate abstract ideas or artistic concepts into characters that meet the requirements of the artistic direction
Conduct research and preliminary sketches to explore different styles and ideas based on the specifications
Design and develop the physical characteristics, facial expressions, and costumes of characters or creatures
Create detailed 2D or 3D models of characters using specialized software
Perform requested retakes
Work closely with the production team
Bring creative ideas to the table
Adhere to production deadlines and specifications
Stay updated on new trends, techniques, and artistic references through artistic research

Skills & Competencies of a Character Designer

The profession of a Character Designer is a creative field that involves:

Mastery of drawing techniques, sketching, and illustration
Expertise in visual storytelling
In-depth understanding of human and animal anatomy, including proportions, gestures and movements, facial expressions, and poses
Proficiency in various artistic styles, whether realistic, stylized, cartoon, or others, depending on the project’s requirements
Ability to create costumes, settings, and accessories suitable for characters, considering their style, historical period, or universe
Excellent understanding of visual language: colors, shadows, lights, depth, perspective, scale, proportion
Proficiency in composition, perspective, and anatomy
Ability to convey character or emotions through shape and color

Required Qualities

The profession of a Character Designer requires several soft skills (non-technical skills):

Creativity and artistic sensitivity
Adaptability
Teamwork and communication skills
Problem-solving and perseverance
Time management and the ability to prioritize tasks
Curiosity and open-mindedness
Ability to receive constructive feedback

Software used by Character Designers

To create initial sketches, Character Designers may prefer using traditional tools such as pencils, paper, or ink.

Subsequently, they utilize specialized software for 2D or 3D creation.

Here are some commonly used software by Character Designers:

Photoshop
Illustrator
ZBrush
Maya
3ds Max
Cinema 4D
Corel Painter
Procreate

Having basic knowledge of a game engine (such as Unity or Unreal Engine) can be advantageous for working in the field of video games.

How to become a Character Designer

To become a Character Designer, here are some tips:

Develop artistic skills and practice drawing, painting, and illustration
Take an interest in human anatomy, perspective, and artistic composition
Build a strong and diverse artistic culture (photography, painting, posters, etc.)
Enroll in a specialized post-secondary program to become a Character Designer in 3D Animation or video games
Build and enhance your portfolio
Network to expand your connections and access professional opportunities
Attend conferences and masterclasses to gain insights and further knowledge

Post-high school diploma Programs to Become a Character Designer

ISART offers two post-high school diploma programs that provide the technical and creative skills needed to become a Character Designer: 3D Animation-FX & Game Art.

Admission to the first year is open to high school graduates.

Parallel admissions are possible based on the results of admission exams and the portfolio.

Studying 3D Animation to Become a Character Designer

The 3D/FX Cinema program provides the necessary skills to work in the animation and special effects film industry, mastering the studio’s work methods from pre-production to post-production, and becoming a Character Designer.

Artistic Culture: Art History, Styles | Film, Animation, Special Effects, and Video Game Culture | Fundamentals of Image Conferences

Fundamentals: 3D | Animation | Digital Color | Observational Drawing | Human and Animal Morphology

General and Artistic Culture: Set Design | Layout | Introduction to Digital Imaging | Human and Animal Morphology

Visual Development: History of Cinema, Animation, and Special Effects

Professional Integration Support

3D Cinema program

Explore the Program

Game Art Video Game Curriculum

The Game Art program provides the necessary graphic and managerial skills to work in every artistic specialty of a real-time 3D project, and become a Character Designer.

Artistic Culture: Art History, Styles | Film, Animation, Special Effects, and Video Game Culture | Fundamentals of Image Conferences

Fundamentals: 3D | Animation | Digital Color | Observational Drawing | Human and Animal Morphology

Game Design / Level Design: Basics and Fundamental Rules

Professional Integration Support

GAME ART Program

Explore the training program

Which is the best school to become a Character Designer?

ISART has over 20 years of expertise in the fields of 3D-FX animation and video games:

Ranked as the top video game school in Europe (source: 2022 GAMEducation)
Ranked among the best schools worldwide: Top 2 by The Rookies, Top 2 by Figaro.fr, Top 3 by Étudiant.fr
92% graduate employment rate
21 years of experience
2,200 alumni across three continents: America, Asia, and Europe
Unique combination of Creativity, Technical Skills, and Business

The teaching staff consists of experienced industry professionals with recognized pedagogical qualities.

The school maintains close relationships with the film, animation, and video game industries. This results in internship and apprenticeship opportunities, as well as networking events with industry professionals.

Today, over 500 partners place their trust in ISART students.

ISART Digital provides students with state-of-the-art facilities (green screen room, model workshop, game lab) and equipment (filming, software, rendering farm, Nintendo Switch & PS4 development kits, VR kit) to create an optimal learning environment for practice and experimentation.

What degree?

ISART awards the RNCP level 7 “Expert in Digital Design, 3D Animation, and Special Effects” title, subject to the obtained results.

APPLYING TO BECOME A CHARACTER DESIGNER

Perspectives

Career advancements

Here are possible career advancements for a Character Designer:

The Lead Character Designer plays a key role in artistic direction, task coordination, creative decision-making, and team management.

The Art Director is responsible for overseeing the overall artistic direction of a project, including character design, environments, colors, art styles, etc.

Which companies hire Character Designers?

There are numerous entertainment companies and industries that may hire Character Designers, including:

Video game studios
Film or animation series studios
Advertising, marketing, and design agencies

Other careers that may interest you:

Game Artist

The Game Artist designs and creates the visual universe of a video game project, following the artistic direction and considering technical and functional constraints of the game.

FX Artist

The FX Artist creates special effects (such as liquids, fire, destruction, explosions, clouds, particles, hair, crowds, etc.) in real-time or pre-rendered for film productions, video games, series, advertising, etc.

3D Animator

The 3D Animator specializes in animating characters, environments, and objects in 3D for film (full 3D or digital special effects), video games, virtual reality, advertising, etc.

Lighting Artist

The Lighting Artist creates the lighting for a pre-rendered 3D scene or real-time video game. They enhance characters and environments while maintaining a consistent visual style.

Digital Matte Painter

The Digital Matte Painter is a digital artist specialized in creating virtual landscapes, sets, and environments for films or video games. They bring virtual worlds to life, recreate or modify real locations in a photorealistic or artistic manner.

Character Artist

The Character Artist creates and models 3D characters based on a 2D concept, while adhering to the aesthetic and narrative requirements of a project. Through their work on textures and details, they enhance the immersive experience for players and viewers.

3D Modeler

The 3D Modeler creates and sculpts three-dimensional digital models, creatures, objects, characters, and/or environments for sectors such as video games and 3D/visual effects animation.