LEARN THE BASICS

Develop the core character design skills used across games, animation, and entertainment through this focused 6-week mentorship. Designed for artists looking to strengthen their character design fundamentals, the course teaches students how to move beyond simply drawing characters and begin designing them with purpose, personality, and clear visual storytelling.

Throughout the program, students explore essential concepts including anatomy, stylization, shape language, silhouette design, costume exploration, facial expressions, and character presentation. Through practical assignments and industry-inspired exercises, they learn how to create appealing, believable characters while developing a structured design process using Photoshop or Procreate.

Each week includes personalized mentor feedback and design critiques, helping students refine their work and build confidence in their creative decision-making. Rather than overwhelming students with an intensive production schedule, the course focuses on mastering the fundamentals through a manageable workload, making it ideal for both aspiring artists and working professionals.

By the end of the six weeks, students will have completed one to two polished portfolio-quality character design projects, demonstrating a solid understanding of professional design principles and a stronger foundation for pursuing more advanced character design or AKSOA's flagship 3-month intensive program.

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS

Great character design goes beyond anatomy and rendering, it is about creating characters that feel believable, memorable, and visually compelling. Throughout this 6-week mentorship, students will explore the fundamental principles of professional character design while learning how to transform simple ideas into appealing characters through strong design choices, visual storytelling, and thoughtful iteration.

The course is designed as a focused introduction to the character design pipeline, allowing students to build confidence without the intensity of a long-term program. Students begin by studying anatomy, proportions, facial features, expressions, stylization, and shape language before applying these concepts to the development of a complete character. As the course progresses, they will explore costume design, props, accessories, color, and silhouette to create a character with a clear personality and visual identity.

Through live demonstrations, weekly assignments, and personalized mentor feedback, students will refine their work while developing an efficient creative workflow using Photoshop or Procreate. The emphasis is on learning strong design fundamentals, understanding the reasoning behind design decisions, and building the confidence to develop original concepts.

By the end of the six weeks, students will have completed one polished portfolio-ready character design project, supported by concept explorations, design iterations, and presentation sheets that demonstrate a professional approach to character creation. This course is ideal for artists looking to strengthen their fundamentals, improve their portfolio, or prepare for more advanced character design studies.