Task 01: Exercises--Merchandise + Packaging Design
GCD61304 -- Task :Character Design + Packaging Design
20/4/2026~24/5/2026 (Week 1-Week 5)
WANG ZIJIA - 0393824Illustration and Visual Narrative/Bachelor of Design in Creative Media/Taylor's University
Table of Content
1 . Lectures
2 . Instructions
3 . Tutorial
4 . Final Art Works
5 . Reflections
1.Lectures
Week 02 – Character Design Basics
In this week’s class, I learned the basics of character design and different ways to develop creative ideas for characters. The lecture explained that good character designs are usually iconic, simple, and unique. I understood that strong silhouettes, simple shapes, and clear visual elements can make a character more memorable and easier to recognize. This helped me realize that character design is not only about adding details, but also about making the design clear and meaningful.
I also learned how to generate ideas using the “Who, Where, Trait, and Twist” method. By combining random prompts together, I could create more interesting and unexpected character concepts. I think this method was very useful because it helped me think more creatively and explore ideas outside my usual style. After choosing a prompt, we created mood boards and gathered references to help develop the character further.
Besides that, I learned how to create thumbnail sketches using simple shapes like circles, rectangles, and triangles. These basic shapes helped build the structure and personality of the characters quickly. The lecture also explained how colours, contrast, harmony, and expressions can affect the personality and emotions of a character. Different colours and shapes can give different feelings and help audiences understand the character better.
Overall, this week helped me understand the full process of character design, from generating ideas to creating sketches and developing personality through visual elements. I think these lessons will help me improve my creativity and design skills for future illustration projects.
Week 03 – Chiaroscuro
In this week’s lecture, I learned about chiaroscuro, which is the use of light and dark to create depth and strong visual effects in artworks. The lecturer showed examples from paintings, films, and comics to explain how lighting can make a scene feel more emotional and dramatic. I found it interesting because I never realized how important shadows and contrast are in storytelling before.
I also learned about positive space and negative space. Positive space is the main subject in the artwork, while negative space is the background around it. By using strong lighting contrast, artists can guide the audience’s attention to the most important part of the scene. This technique is often used in movies like The Godfather and Barry Lyndon to create emotional scenes and dramatic tension.
Besides that, the lecture explained that chiaroscuro can help increase dramatic tension, create stronger visual impact, and improve composition. I think this technique will be useful for my future illustration work because lighting can change the mood of an artwork very easily. After this class, I started paying more attention to shadows, highlights, and lighting when watching movies or looking at illustrations.
2 . Instructions
For Task 01, we need to complete character design and merchandise design exercises. The task is worth 20% in total and is divided into three parts: line art character design (5%), colored illustration (5%), and sustainable merchandise & packaging design (10%). The deadline is Week 05, 24th May 2026 before 11:59PM.
First, we need to create one character design using the silhouette and line art method. We have to develop ideas using the “Who, Where, Trait, Twist” prompt matrix method and create thumbnail sketches based on those prompts. Mood boards and sketches are also required to show the idea development process.
After finishing the line art, we need to create a colored version of the character. Flat backgrounds are optional, and we do not need to draw environments or scenery for this task. The focus is mainly on the character itself and the use of clear colors and design.
The second part of the assignment is sustainable merchandise and packaging design. We need to design ideas for eco-friendly merchandise such as a biodegradable cork mouse pad or bamboo cable set. We also need to create packaging designs for the merchandise. Sketches for both merchandise ideas are required, but only one final design needs to be completed digitally in Adobe Illustrator.
3 . Tutorial
Character Design
Generating Ideas using Prompt Matrix & Basic Character Design :
1. A cheerful wolf has a square face on the mountain top
2.A strict witch has a talking pen in the library
3.An anxious driver wears a giant hat in the forest
4.A tired robot has a big nose in the school
5.A crazy lecturer has a growing hair in the library
Sketches:
From all the sketches,what I choose is "A strict witch has a talking pen in the library"
Draft:
After being refined by Chat GPT, I obtained a sketch with simplified coloring.
Packaging Design
My design inspiration comes from the daily life and environment at Taylor’s University. I used different elements related to campus life, such as study tools, technology devices, and university buildings, to represent students’ experiences and memories in school. The main illustration combines objects that students often use in their daily learning journey, including books, stationery, laptops, and wireless devices. I also included architectural elements inspired by Taylor’s University to create a stronger connection with the campus identity. The flowing layout in the design represents the journey and lifestyle of university students, showing how learning, creativity, and daily activities are connected together. I chose warm and soft colors to create a comfortable and friendly feeling, which matches the relaxing yet productive atmosphere of campus life. Overall, this packaging design is created to reflect the modern student experience at Taylor’s University while keeping the illustration simple, creative, and visually engaging.
4 . Final Art Works
Sketches
Line Art：
Colored：
Packaging Design
5 . Reflections
For Task 01, I learned a lot about character design and packaging illustration. My final character design was a serious witch with a talking pen. At first, I focused more on the appearance and personality of the character, but during the process I realized that the most important thing I gained was learning how to use Adobe Illustrator more effectively. I became more familiar with tools such as the pen tool, shape building, coloring, layer arrangement, and line art cleaning. Even though the character itself is simple, I think this project helped me improve my digital illustration workflow and gave me more confidence when using AI software. Besides that, I also learned how to develop ideas using thumbnails, mood boards, and prompt matrix methods. These exercises helped me think more creatively and organize my ideas better before starting the final artwork. I understood that planning and sketching are very important during the design process because they make the final work clearer and more consistent.
For the packaging design, my idea was inspired by Taylor’s University campus life and study environment. I combined university buildings, study tools, and electronic devices that students use in daily life. I wanted the illustration to reflect the real experience and memories of university students. I included items such as books, stationery, laptops, earphones, and wireless devices because they represent modern student life and learning culture. I also used warm and soft colors to create a comfortable and energetic feeling. Through this project, I learned how to arrange illustrations inside packaging templates and how to balance visual elements so the design looks clean but still interesting. Overall, this assignment helped me improve both my creativity and technical skills, especially in Adobe Illustrator and digital illustration design.
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