Concepting Process Supplement

Created by Sarah Choi (prompt writer using ChatGPT)

Concepting Process Supplement

Below is a comprehensive breakdown of a typical concepting process for a concept artist, spanning from initial ideation to final presentation. You’ll find detailed explanations of each stage, why it matters, how to approach it, and suggestions for handling different time constraints. Additionally, each section includes recommendations tailored to Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Gifted & Talented artists, so you can scale your approach based on skill level or time available.

1. Understanding the Creative Brief

What It Is

Before putting pencil to paper or stylus to tablet, thoroughly understand the assignment or “brief.” This might come from a client, an art director, a game developer, or from your own personal project goals. The brief outlines the requirements, desired style or tone, scope, audience, and any constraints (e.g., setting, budget, or time).

Why It Matters

  • Ensures you meet the client’s or project’s needs.
  • Prevents wasted effort on designs that don’t align with the final goal.
  • Sets the parameters for your visual exploration.

How to Do It

  1. Ask Questions: Get clarity on the purpose, story, target audience, and style references.
  2. Identify Key Terms: Write down keywords and phrases from the brief (e.g., “futuristic,” “gritty,” “regal,” “organic”).
  3. Clarify Deliverables: Confirm the format of final deliverables (e.g., a set of character turnarounds, environment paintings, or weapon designs).

Beginner

  • Write a short summary of the brief in your own words to confirm understanding.
  • Keep notes visible while you work as a constant reminder.

Intermediate

  • Create a small “mood board” of words or images that reflect the brief.
  • Discuss the project with peers or mentors to refine your interpretation.

Advanced

  • Analyze how the brief’s constraints (style, story, budget) may push your design in a unique direction.
  • Start forming “what-if” scenarios to explore beyond the first obvious solution.

Gifted & Talented

  • Explore additional thematic layers (cultural, historical, or emotional context).
  • Challenge the brief by identifying potential expansions or deeper narrative threads that can elevate the concept.

2. Research and Reference Gathering

What It Is

Collecting visual and written materials to inspire and inform your designs. This can include photographs, historical documents, concept art from similar genres, fashion, architecture, nature references, etc.

Why It Matters

  • Helps ground your design in reality or a believable fiction.
  • Provides a wealth of ideas and visual cues to spark creativity.
  • Fills knowledge gaps quickly, preventing “generic” designs.

How to Do It

  1. Identify Key Elements: Think about the shape language, materials, cultural influences, color palettes, etc.
  2. Organize References: Use folders, mood boards (e.g., Pinterest, PureRef), or digital files with tags so you can easily find what you need.
  3. Filter and Prioritize: Don’t let references overwhelm you; select only those that strongly resonate with your project.

Beginner

  • Start a digital or physical scrapbook of interesting images.
  • Focus on real-world objects or photos to develop an eye for authenticity.

Intermediate

  • Group references into categories: “Color Inspiration,” “Shape Language,” “Material,” and “Theme.”
  • Practice quick sketches from references to internalize their design logic.

Advanced

  • Go deeper: study cultural or historical background, real-world scientific principles, or architecture to add depth to your concept.
  • Begin combining references to create “hybrid” inspiration boards unique to your project.

Gifted & Talented

  • Cross-pollinate references from wildly different domains (e.g., biology + machinery, medieval fashion + futuristic architecture).
  • Experiment with purposeful mismatches of style and era to create striking juxtapositions.

3. Brainstorming and Ideation

What It Is

Divergent thinking to generate as many ideas as possible. This stage is about quantity over quality—resist the urge to refine too soon.

Why It Matters

  • Avoids tunnel vision on a single idea.
  • Encourages bold, creative leaps you might otherwise overlook.
  • Lays the foundation for unique designs.

How to Do It

  1. Mind Mapping: Write a central theme and branch out with related words or images.
  2. Rapid Sketches: Doodle small, rough forms to capture the essence of an idea.
  3. Brainwriting/Team Brainstorm (if in a group): Everyone contributes ideas in a round-robin fashion.

Beginner

  • Set a timer for 5–10 minutes and sketch as many ideas as possible without worrying about quality.
  • Focus on basic shapes and silhouettes.

Intermediate

  • Use creative prompts (e.g., “What if this character was an aquatic creature?”) to explore different directions.
  • Build on your references to give each idea a unique flavor.

Advanced

  • Explore multiple style treatments (e.g., realistic, stylized, caricature).
  • Combine ideas from different mind map branches to form unexpected hybrids.

Gifted & Talented

  • Challenge common tropes by subverting them (e.g., “What if dragons are small, insect-like creatures instead of massive beasts?”).
  • Incorporate narrative hooks (“This environment was once a grand city but now is submerged underwater—how did that happen?”).

4. Thumbnailing

What It Is

Small, fast, rough sketches that capture the overall composition, shape language, and design direction. They are typically just a few inches in size or reduced in digital form to keep details minimal.

Why It Matters

  • Quick iteration to test composition and silhouette.
  • Helps visualize different solutions rapidly without committing too much time to detail.
  • Provides a framework for feedback from directors or peers.

How to Do It

  1. Work Small: Thumbnails should be small enough that you don’t get caught up in detail.
  2. Focus on Silhouette: Try to emphasize strong shapes that read well at a glance.
  3. Generate Variations: Aim for 5–10 distinct thumbnails to start, or more if time allows.

Beginner

  • Draw 5–10 thumbnails focusing on big shapes and readability.
  • Keep them black and white or grayscale to simplify values.

Intermediate

  • Push yourself to create more variations (10–20).
  • Experiment with different compositions or silhouettes (e.g., wide, tall, symmetrical, asymmetrical).

Advanced

  • Incorporate quick value studies to understand how light and dark areas balance.
  • Use perspective lines or rough 3D block-ins for complex scenes or vehicles.

Gifted & Talented

  • Explore narrative moments in your thumbnails (e.g., add small figures or storytelling elements).
  • Combine manual thumbnailing with rapid digital 3D block-outs to quickly test compositions in different camera angles.

5. Iteration and Development

What It Is

Refining the strongest ideas from your thumbnails through multiple passes. This is where you develop a concept’s details, personality, or architectural features.

Why It Matters

  • Iteration weeds out weaker designs and amplifies the best elements.
  • Prevents you from settling too early on an idea that is “just okay.”
  • Opens doors to creative problem-solving and polish.

How to Do It

  1. Select Promising Thumbnails: Pick 2–3 that stand out or have potential.
  2. Create Larger Sketches: Scale up your chosen thumbnails and refine the shapes, adding more detail.
  3. Seek Feedback: Share with colleagues or mentors for a fresh perspective.
  4. Revise: Incorporate feedback and iterate again if needed.

Beginner

  • Move from small thumbnails to medium-sized sketches.
  • Focus on basic proportions and recognizable details.

Intermediate

  • Introduce color roughs to explore color schemes or mood.
  • Iterate with multiple layers (traditional or digital) to refine design elements.

Advanced

  • Experiment with different line weights, textural treatments, and surface detailing.
  • Keep testing multiple color and lighting scenarios to find the most compelling look.

Gifted & Talented

  • Combine real-world logic (e.g., mechanical functionality, cultural authenticity) with imaginative flourishes.
  • Iterate on the narrative aspect: consider how characters interact with the environment or objects, or how objects show wear and tear over time.

6. Polishing and Final Rendering

What It Is

Taking your most successful iteration to a polished, presentable piece of concept art. This can include line art, full color rendering, lighting passes, and final textures.

Why It Matters

  • Provides a “blueprint” for 3D modelers, illustrators, or production teams.
  • Conveys the atmosphere, materials, and finished look of the design.
  • Demonstrates professional skill and attention to detail.

How to Do It

  1. Block In Base Colors/Values: Establish the local color or value of major forms first.
  2. Add Lighting and Shadows: Define a light source to add depth and realism or stylization.
  3. Texture and Materials: Use photo textures or carefully painted textures to convey surface qualities.
  4. Add Final Details: Include small touches, such as rivets on armor, cracks on a wall, or glints on metallic surfaces.
  5. Overpainting (for digital artists): Smooth transitions, unify colors, and ensure clarity in focal points.

Beginner

  • Focus on clean line art and basic lighting to clearly communicate the design.
  • Use a limited color palette to avoid color overload.

Intermediate

  • Introduce secondary light sources or subtle color shifts.
  • Incorporate texture brushes or photo overlays to enrich material rendering.

Advanced

  • Execute refined material rendering with believable highlights, reflections, and ambient occlusion.
  • Use advanced color harmonies, atmospheric perspective, or stylized lighting for dramatic impact.

Gifted & Talented

  • Innovate new rendering techniques (e.g., combining photobashing with hand-painted details in unexpected ways).
  • Align every detail with a narrative or thematic purpose (e.g., worn edges that imply history or conflict).

7. Presentation

What It Is

How you arrange and showcase your final concept for maximum clarity and impact. This can include turnarounds, detail callouts, color variants, or a polished key art piece.

Why It Matters

  • Ensures that the design is understood by other team members (modelers, animators, or marketing teams).
  • Highlights your professionalism and ability to communicate visually.
  • Makes your portfolio stand out or impresses the client.

How to Do It

  1. Layout: Arrange your artwork on a clean canvas or page with clear labeling.
  2. Annotations: Use arrows or notes to highlight important details (e.g., material callouts, functional areas).
  3. Multiple Views: For characters or objects, provide front, side, back, and ¾ views if needed.
  4. Title & Description: Add context, such as the name of the concept, date, and short text explaining unique features.

Beginner

  • Keep the layout simple, with minimal text.
  • Use a white or neutral gray background so the concept stands out.

Intermediate

  • Develop a consistent visual language in your presentation (fonts, color schemes).
  • Add close-up callouts for intricate parts or material details.

Advanced

  • Create a narrative setup (e.g., a small scene showing the character in context).
  • Use graphic design principles like hierarchy, alignment, and balance.

Gifted & Talented

  • Craft a mini “pitch document” that includes lore snippets, story hooks, and additional sketches or diagrams.
  • Integrate thematic elements into the presentation itself (e.g., a parchment-style layout for medieval concepts).

8. Time Management Tips

If You Have Ample Time

  • Deep Research: Spend extra time studying real-world references and crafting a more authentic design.
  • Multiple Iterations: Generate a larger pool of thumbnails and iterations to uncover truly unique concepts.
  • Collaborate and Gather Feedback: Seek multiple rounds of critique to refine and perfect your design.

If You Have Limited Time

  • Thumbnail Quickly: Focus on rapid silhouettes to find a strong direction fast.
  • Selective Research: Grab only the most critical references.
  • Simplify: Choose a single strong idea and execute it well rather than spreading yourself thin.

Putting It All Together

  1. Understanding the Brief: Know your project’s constraints and goals.
  2. Gather References: Create mood boards and reference folders.
  3. Brainstorm and Thumbnail: Explore many ideas in small, quick sketches.
  4. Iterate and Develop: Refine the strongest thumbnails.
  5. Polish and Render: Turn your refined concept into a presentation-ready piece.
  6. Showcase Professionally: Label, annotate, and present with clarity.

By following these stages diligently—and scaling your approach based on your skill level and available time—you’ll be able to create compelling, polished concepts that satisfy both the creative vision and the production pipeline. Remember that concept art is an iterative, collaborative process: remain open to feedback, keep refining your craft, and use the right mix of foundational techniques with your own creative flair.

Final Note

Concept art is as much about problem-solving and communication as it is about artistic skill. Whether you’re a beginner getting your feet wet or a seasoned pro pushing the boundaries of design, staying curious and adaptable will drive your growth. Embrace each stage of the process, and don’t be afraid to iterate. Good luck on your concepting journey!