Task 2: Exercises (Compositions) – 20%

ILLUSTRATION & VISUAL NARRATIVE - Character Design

Assignment Duration: Week 5 - Week 6

NAME: SITI NUR HASYIMAH ISMAIL

STUDENT ID: 0348369

PROGRAM: BACHELOR IN FASHION DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

 

1. Lectures 

2. Class Exercises & Individual Task

3. Reflection

Lectures

Week 5: we continued developing the background for our character while learning about spatial composition, including the use of foreground, middle ground, and background. We were also introduced to three composition techniques: the rule of thirds, the golden ratio, and radial composition.

Week 6: After completing the full illustration, we were required to create a card design using it. During this week’s tutorial, we were guided through a step-by-step process on how to design the card, which included creating borders and labels, adding the background using a clipping mask, and finalising the design with text and exporting the final output. Finally, we were also tasked to create a collective card design using our final illustration and a step by step tutorial was also provided.

Class Exercises & Individual Task

1. Creating Environment For the Character

Mood-board

Firstly, we gathered image references for our background. We looked for images that resemble the characteristics we were trying to achieve in the background.

For the background, I wanted the character to be placed in a dark castle, sitting confidently on a throne and surrounded by her electric guitars. The overall concept was to create a gothic and dark atmosphere.

Sketches

After that, we created three different sketches using three different compositions. We were also required to apply and incorporate a composition technique into each sketch.

Chosen Sketch

This is the sketch that was chosen by the lecturer. I also included the grid lines to show the composition technique I am using, which is the rule of thirds.

Progress

Creating the character...

Creating the chair...



Creating the background...

Putting all the assets together..

Continue illustrating the guitar to add more elements to the illustration.

Adding the guitars around the chair. At this point, the illustration is basically done - just need to add some final details.

This is what the illustration ended up looking like after I added some shadows and light rays.

Final Result

2. Collectible Card Design

After the illustration was completed, we were required to create a collectible card design based on it. I gathered several card design references from Pinterest to develop an idea for my card layout. I maintained the same gothic concept, with a royal blue colour theme with metallic silver accent. For the card frame, I chose a minimalist design because the illustration already contains many visual elements, ensuring the overall card does not appear too crowded.

Mood-board

Sketches

Final Card Design

Reflection

This overall task helped me understand how a character illustration is not just about drawing, but about making deliberate design decisions from the very beginning. Starting from learning composition techniques such as the rule of thirds, I became more aware of how foreground, middle ground, and background work together to guide the viewer’s focus. Designing the background using these principles pushed me to think beyond aesthetics and consider mood, storytelling, and balance, especially since I wanted to create a dark, gothic environment that reflected the character’s authority and personality. When translating the final illustration into a collectible card design, I had to be more selective and disciplined, simplifying the frame and layout so the illustration could still stand out without looking overcrowded. Overall, this process taught me how planning, composition, and restraint play a crucial role in creating a cohesive final outcome, and how illustration and graphic design are closely connected rather than separate skills.