Table of Contents Costume Design

Table of Contents: Costume Design

Created by Sarah Choi (prompt writer using ChatGPT)

Costume Design for Video Games

Table of Contents

Written for aspiring artists, indie studio artists, and AAA professionals. Each unit is scaffolded with clear projects for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced / Expert.

Part I — Orientation & Foundations

Unit 1 — The Costume Concept Artist

Sub‑units: Roles across indie / AAA, deliverables, collaboration map
- Ch.1: What costume concept art solves (identity, role, readability)
- Ch.2: Deliverable types (silhouettes, turnarounds, breakdowns, callouts, variant packs)
- Ch.3: Reading briefs & asking the right questions (role, faction, tech level, climate, gameplay)
- Ch.4: Production constraints 101 (metrics, cameras, ratings, performance)

Unit 2 — Drawing Foundations for Costume

Sub‑units: Gesture, proportion, construction
- Ch.1: Gesture & line of action that costumes must follow
- Ch.2: Proportion systems (head counts, stylized grids)
- Ch.3: Form construction under cloth (planes, cylinders, boxes)
- Ch.4: Foreshortening & staging for clear reads

Unit 3 — Costume History & Period Silhouettes (Survey)

Sub‑units: Landmark shapes & shifts
- Ch.1: Timeline of silhouette change (ancient → modern)
- Ch.2: Period cues: collars, skirts, sleeves, waists, headwear
- Ch.3: Authenticity vs stylization — how far to push
- Ch.4: Respectful reference & sourcing basics

Unit 4 — Research, Visual Libraries & Moodboards

Sub‑units: Fieldwork, archives, ethics
- Ch.1: Building a costume library (period, culture, occupation, genre)
- Ch.2: Moodboards that direct style, not copy (materials, trim, graphics)
- Ch.3: Photo & diagram studies (orthos, pattern overlays, labels)
- Ch.4: Research packets (taxonomy, lexicon, supplier / atelier notes)

Unit 5 — World Logic for Costumes

Sub‑units: Culture, climate, economy, tech
- Ch.1: Climate & environment → layer systems
- Ch.2: Materials & manufacturing (from handcraft to mass production)
- Ch.3: Faction doctrines, symbols & etiquette
- Ch.4: Logistics: maintenance, spares, laundering, carry

Part II — Garment Systems & Construction

Unit 6 — Blocks & Pattern Logic (Concept‑Level)

Sub‑units: Slopers, ease, darts, grading
- Ch.1: Core blocks (bodice, sleeve, pants, skirt) as shape primitives
- Ch.2: Seams, darts & panels — visual rhythms
- Ch.3: Ease & mobility zones (elbow, knee, seat, crotch)
- Ch.4: Scaling / grade logic for NPC pools & customization

Unit 7 — Drape & Fold Families

Sub‑units: Pipe, zigzag, spiral, drop, inertial
- Ch.1: Where folds start / stop — tension & compression maps
- Ch.2: Cloth mass, stiffness & bias‑cut reads
- Ch.3: Wind, motion & gravity cues for gameplay
- Ch.4: Stylizing folds while keeping structure

Unit 8 — Tops: Shirts, Blouses, Tunics

Sub‑units: Collars, plackets, yokes
- Ch.1: Necklines & collar systems (stand, shawl, mandarin)
- Ch.2: Sleeves & cuffs — range of motion reads
- Ch.3: Plackets & closures — button, snap, hidden
- Ch.4: Hem shapes & layering with armor / outerwear

Unit 9 — Jackets & Coats

Sub‑units: Lapels, facings, vents
- Ch.1: Jacket classes (bomber, blazer, tunic, frock, trench)
- Ch.2: Lapel / collar geometry & stance
- Ch.3: Venting, linings & thermal logic
- Ch.4: Pocket ecosystems & visual hierarchy

Unit 10 — Bottoms: Pants & Skirts

Sub‑units: Rises, pleats, vents, waist systems
- Ch.1: Trouser blocks & fits (straight, tapered, wide, cargo)
- Ch.2: Skirts (A‑line, circle, pleated, wrap) — movement reads
- Ch.3: Waistbands, closures & adjusters
- Ch.4: Articulation at knees / hips; split & slit logic

Unit 11 — Dresses, Robes & Gowns

Sub‑units: One‑piece systems
- Ch.1: Empire, sheath, princess, kimono‑inspired* (*with cultural respect)
- Ch.2: Trains, capes & drape management
- Ch.3: Panels, gores & godets for flare
- Ch.4: Understructures (petticoats, hoops) for silhouette

Unit 12 — Outerwear & Weather Protection

Sub‑units: Capes, cloaks, parkas, rainwear
- Ch.1: Shell vs insulation logic
- Ch.2: Hoods, collars & storm flaps
- Ch.3: Waterproofing cues (seam tape, gussets)
- Ch.4: Readability in precipitation & wind

Unit 13 — Foundations & Support

Sub‑units: Undergarments, corsetry, padding
- Ch.1: Support systems & comfort reads (depiction only)
- Ch.2: Compression / shape underlayers for action
- Ch.3: Harnessing & weight distribution under costume
- Ch.4: Quick‑change & modular swaps

Unit 14 — Closures & Adjustability

Sub‑units: Buttons, zips, laces, ties, buckles, hook‑and‑loop
- Ch.1: Closure placement & strain paths
- Ch.2: Fit adjusters (tabs, drawcords, gussets)
- Ch.3: Fastener materials & noise language (stealth vs showy)
- Ch.4: Diegetic UI: color / shape states (open / closed, safe / armed)

Unit 15 — Belts, Straps & Harnesses

Sub‑units: Load, carry, silhouette
- Ch.1: Anchoring pouches, props & tools
- Ch.2: Weight distribution & comfort zones
- Ch.3: Visual rhythm (strap grids, negative space)
- Ch.4: Safety, snag & collision awareness

Unit 16 — Headwear & Hair Integration

Sub‑units: Hats, veils, crowns, hoods
- Ch.1: Head shapes & fit logic
- Ch.2: Hair volume management & silhouettes
- Ch.3: Veils, masks & readable transparency
- Ch.4: Ornament vs function balance

Unit 17 — Footwear

Sub‑units: Lasts, soles, uppers, closures
- Ch.1: Shoe classes & silhouettes (boot, sandal, heel, clog)
- Ch.2: Treads & terrain language
- Ch.3: Ankle / calf articulation and straps
- Ch.4: Heels, lifts & gait reads

Unit 18 — Handwear & Armwear

Sub‑units: Gloves, gauntlets, bracers
- Ch.1: Finger articulation & seams
- Ch.2: Grip textures & reinforcement
- Ch.3: Wrist closures & mobility
- Ch.4: Decorative vs protective reads

Unit 19 — Cultural & Ceremonial Dress (Collaboration)

Sub‑units: Ritual, formal, festival
- Ch.1: Silhouette languages & motifs across cultures
- Ch.2: Working with cultural consultants
- Ch.3: Adaptation vs appropriation — guidelines
- Ch.4: Ceremony logistics: movement, storage, care

Unit 20 — Uniforms & Occupational Dress

Sub‑units: Rank, role, safety
- Ch.1: Rank / insignia systems & color coding
- Ch.2: Pockets, loops & tool access
- Ch.3: PPE integration (visibility, protection)
- Ch.4: Parade vs field variants

Unit 21 — Sportswear & Performance Apparel

Sub‑units: Stretch, vents, moisture
- Ch.1: Knit panels & articulation maps
- Ch.2: Venting & mesh placement
- Ch.3: Compression & support cues
- Ch.4: Team livery & number systems

Part III — Materials, Surface & Ornament

Unit 22 — Fibers & Woven Textiles

Sub‑units: Cotton, linen, wool, silk, synthetics
- Ch.1: Weaves (plain, twill, satin, jacquard)
- Ch.2: Hand, drape & sheen reads
- Ch.3: Dyeing & colorfastness cues
- Ch.4: Tiling & scale logic for concepts

Unit 23 — Knits & Stretch Structures

Sub‑units: Jersey, rib, interlock, crochet
- Ch.1: Knit vs woven tells in silhouette
- Ch.2: Recovery, pilling & wear patterns
- Ch.3: Seams, bindings & hems for stretch
- Ch.4: Pattern graphics on stretch surfaces

Unit 24 — Leather, Fur & Ethical Alternatives

Sub‑units: Grain, splits, suedes, faux
- Ch.1: Surface reads (pores, pull‑up, nap)
- Ch.2: Seams, skives & edge finishes
- Ch.3: Fur / faux‑fur volume & clumping
- Ch.4: Ethics & sourcing signals

Unit 25 — Trims, Notions & Hardware

Sub‑units: Thread, piping, bias, elastic, buckles, snaps
- Ch.1: Trim families & placement logic
- Ch.2: Hardware ecosystems & finish stacks
- Ch.3: Failure points & reinforcement
- Ch.4: Visual noise vs clarity — when to simplify

Unit 26 — Prints, Patterns & Graphics

Sub‑units: Repeat, placement, scale
- Ch.1: Repeat types (straight, half‑drop, tossed)
- Ch.2: Placement prints & collision with seams
- Ch.3: Moiré & aliasing risks in engine
- Ch.4: Lore graphics & typography systems

Unit 27 — Embellishment & Surface Craft

Sub‑units: Embroidery, beading, appliqué, quilting
- Ch.1: Stitch vocab & motif design
- Ch.2: Beads & sequins — sparkle control
- Ch.3: Appliqué edges & shadowing
- Ch.4: Quilt structures & padding reads

Unit 28 — Wear, Weathering & Damage

Sub‑units: Scuffs, stains, tears, repairs
- Ch.1: Stress maps (cuffs, knees, elbows)
- Ch.2: Dirt maps & drip logic
- Ch.3: Mending (patches, darning, visible repair)
- Ch.4: Age passes across a cast

Unit 29 — Material IDs & PBR for Textiles

Sub‑units: Roughness, sheen, anisotropy
- Ch.1: Fabric ID swatch boards for handoff
- Ch.2: Shader hints (weave direction, spec lobes)
- Ch.3: LOD & texel density considerations
- Ch.4: Photo refs vs painted illusions

Unit 30 — Color Engineering for Costumes

Sub‑units: Palettes, value, contrast, accessibility
- Ch.1: Role‑driven palettes & triads
- Ch.2: Skin‑tone harmony & bounce
- Ch.3: Color‑blind safe sets & checks
- Ch.4: Seasonal / event variants & arcs

Part IV — Style, Genre & Faction

Unit 31 — Style Systems: Stylized ↔ Realistic for Costumes

Sub‑units: Shape, edge, value, palette rules
- Ch.1: Proportion caricature & appeal
- Ch.2: Material simplification & gloss discipline
- Ch.3: Brush economies & edge control
- Ch.4: Style drift — diagnosis & correction

Unit 32 — Genre Toolkits

Sub‑units: Fantasy, Sci‑Fi (hard / soft), Cyberpunk, Historical / Alt‑History, Horror, Post‑Apoc, Whimsical
- Ch.1: Genre logic & reference scaffolds
- Ch.2: Visual verbs per genre (float, clank, hum, throb)
- Ch.3: Cross‑genre mashups with coherence
- Ch.4: Faction dialects within a genre

Unit 33 — Faction Identity, Insignia & Livery

Sub‑units: Icons, motifs, colorways, numbering
- Ch.1: Heraldry & symbology systems
- Ch.2: Markings for team/role readability
- Ch.3: Manufacturing variance & “trim levels”
- Ch.4: Personalization vs production consistency

Unit 34 — Role Reads & Gameplay Telemetry

Sub‑units: Class, rarity, encounter design
- Ch.1: Hero / support / tank / striker — silhouette & stance
- Ch.2: Cooldown & power cues on outfit
- Ch.3: Vendor / crafter / quest‑giver economies
- Ch.4: Enemy hierarchies — color / shape telegraphy

Unit 35 — Cultural Collaboration & Sensitivity

Sub‑units: Process, consultation, credit
- Ch.1: Research practices & sources
- Ch.2: Engaging advisors & communities
- Ch.3: Language & framing in documentation
- Ch.4: Review gates & iteration etiquette

Part V — Production & Collaboration

Unit 36 — From Brief to Package: The Costume Concept Pipeline

Sub‑units: Ideation → iteration → finals → handoff
- Ch.1: Silhouette banks & A / B / C sets (30% deltas)
- Ch.2: Proportion passes & lineup pages
- Ch.3: Turnarounds, layer breakdowns & callout sheets
- Ch.4: Final packages: what to include for 3D / rigging / cloth sim / UI / marketing

Unit 37 — 2D / 3D Hybrid Methods for Costumes

Sub‑units: Blockouts, pattern sims, kitbash, photobash ethics
- Ch.1: Mannequin blockouts & pose libraries
- Ch.2: Pattern‑aware cloth tests for paintover
- Ch.3: Lighting renders & material ID passes
- Ch.4: Scan / kitbash collaboration & pitfalls

Unit 38 — Partnering with Character Art, Rigging, Tech Art, Animation, Narrative, UI & Audio

Sub‑units: Metrics, motion, story, interaction
- Ch.1: Joint ranges, collision & cloth risk zones
- Ch.2: Rigging notes (weights, anchors, blend areas)
- Ch.3: Narrative arcs & wardrobe changes across acts
- Ch.4: UI hooks (portraits, icons) & foley motifs

Unit 39 — Readability Across Cameras & Motion

Sub‑units: FPP, TPP, iso, VR / AR, marketing
- Ch.1: Silhouette in motion blur & distance
- Ch.2: Pattern scale & aliasing checks
- Ch.3: Capes, skirts & props — staging hazards
- Ch.4: Key art & promo angles

Unit 40 — Customization, Modularity & Systems

Sub‑units: Slots, dependencies, palettes, decals
- Ch.1: Mix‑and‑match without clipping
- Ch.2: Variant families (starter / elite / legendary)
- Ch.3: LOD, performance & memory guardrails
- Ch.4: Documentation & naming that downstream teams love

Unit 41 — Optimization & Accessibility

Sub‑units: Budgets, readability, inclusion
- Ch.1: Texture/material budgets & atlases
- Ch.2: Silhouette + value checks for color‑blind safety
- Ch.3: Readability at speed & distance
- Ch.4: Inclusive UX: subtitles, icons, contrast

Unit 42 — Scans, Wardrobe & Photogrammetry (Collaboration)

Sub‑units: Capture & integration
- Ch.1: Wardrobe prep (fit, markers, laundering)
- Ch.2: Scan cleanup & paintover notes
- Ch.3: Fabric scanning pitfalls (shine, micro‑normals)
- Ch.4: Legal / likeness / credit considerations

Unit 43 — Marketing, Key Art & Merch

Sub‑units: Poses, renders, print, physicals
- Ch.1: Key art lighting & angle recipes
- Ch.2: Box art silhouettes & SKU variants
- Ch.3: Figurine / merch constraints
- Ch.4: Trailer shot checklists

Part VI — Advanced Practice & Professional Growth

Unit 44 — Advanced Narrative Costuming

Sub‑units: Time layers, culture & “voice”
- Ch.1: Before / after states (injury, weathering, upgrades)
- Ch.2: Micro‑clues: stitching, patches, trophies
- Ch.3: Hero outfits & setpiece moments
- Ch.4: Symbolism & subtext without cliché

Unit 45 — Case Studies & Reverse‑Engineering

Sub‑units: Shipped games & art tests
- Ch.1: AAA constraints — what changed the art
- Ch.2: Indie ingenuity — scope vs vision
- Ch.3: Art test walkthroughs & rubric alignment
- Ch.4: Remastering a legacy outfit: a full teardown

Unit 46 — Portfolio, Careers & Ethics

Sub‑units: Targeted portfolios, communication, contracts
- Ch.1: Sequencing a portfolio for recruiter flow
- Ch.2: Writing callouts & case notes that show thinking
- Ch.3: Collaboration skills, feedback loops, leadership
- Ch.4: Ethics of reference, consent & cultural respect

Unit 47 — Sustainable Workflow & Creative Health

Sub‑units: Time, energy & lifelong practice
- Ch.1: Sprinting personal projects
- Ch.2: Study plans (daily / weekly / monthly)
- Ch.3: Preventing burnout & building momentum
- Ch.4: Communities, mentorship & teaching