Silhouettes

 

So i started to create some silhouettes for my design. The main goal with the entire project is to create a design for an African tribe member in a post apocalyptic world. The main challenge is trying to combine the two worlds and making them believable and realistic. I dont want to create a character that has unnecessary items or objects just to look good. I want the items to all have a meaning. The aim with these silhouettes is to create lost of various designs just to see all the different directions i should go. After this i will further refine one or two of the designs to get to a stage were im confident on creating the final character design.

Design 1 is simple. There is a gas canister on his back leading to a small mask and he is covered in various clothes for warmth against the elements. Then his spear is inspired by some of the necklaces i noticed at the McManus centre.

Design 2 is more directed towards the post apocalyptic design. He has cargo trousers similar to american army trousers combined with a sword for close combat. The a cloth design to cover his shoulders and head from the elements. Next he has a custom gun with large nails on the end in case he needs it for close combat and finally he is wearing a native African mask similar to one at McManus which is describes in a previous blog post.

Design 3 is more focused to a traditional African warrior. He has the long curved spear for his primary offence. Also his lower body is covered in a small cloth. Next his neck is elongated with the traditional brass hopes and there is also tusk earnings combined with body paint all over. Yet he is wearing a body vest he found to protect he torso. This will hold some health supplies and possibly either a gun or a small knife.

Design 4 is focusing on a combination of the two elements. So although he would have been a African bow hunter he is equipped with modern equipment he found in the apocalypse. He still has native elements like a cloth covering his shoulders and some scars and tattoos but otherwise the gear he is wearing is modern. So he is wearing modern boots and cargo trousers combined with a modern backpack for holding various items like food, water and survival gear. His bow is a modern bow but i want to either have it painted or customised to remind the viewer wear he is originally from.

Design 5 is going in a similar direction to design 4 but more influenced by the post apocalyptic world. Basically he is a long range sniper and hunter but he is covered in a native cloth for warmth and straw trousers which he made himself. This is influenced by some of the mask designs African tribes made using dry straw. His rifle would be customised as well to suit his personality.

Design 6 is focusing on a powerful close hand fighter. So he isnt wearing much so he has good mobility. He has body paint and just knee guards on the lower half, but he has a long cloth he made for warmth against the elements. Combined with a neck scarf and a straw head design for more threat against enemies. Finally he has two long almost axes for his offence.

Design 7 is more of your traditional aggressive post apocalyptic design were he has camo trousers and a tight vest and a backpack for some supplies. Yet he has a sawed off shotgun and he will be has some traditional tattoos. The thing that sets him apart is his mask design. Its inspired but one of the images on the post apocalyptic mood boards i created shown in a previous blog post.

Design 8 is similar to design 3 wear i wanted t focus on designing a more traditional African fighter. However i have given him some subtle elements to show hes adapting to the post apocalyptic world. He has a long cloth covering half his body and a traditional mask again inspired by a photo on my original mood board. Then he has two melee weapons. The first being a long curved sword and then in the other hand a heavy sledge hammer. The combination of the two would be extremely effective in close combat. he has a smaller knife strapped to his leg along with a small supply bag but he is also covered in burn marks from his previous tribe.

For design 9 i wanted to create a more spiritual design. The character is most likely a tribe leader or a magic fighter. I wanted to focus on a voodoo doll which i noticed in the McManus centre. So various magic spells would emit out of the doll and circulate the character. He is wearing a long rope and a mask that covers his torso also. It like other mask designs is surrounded by straw and a threatening face design.

Finally design 10 is more focused towards a scavenger/ hunter. I wanted to design the character to be able to survive cold winters and still survive. So he has a customised shotgun for hunting. He is wearing the head of a dead animal and a fluffy animal skin coat. His trousers are not too function but more designed for sprinting and agility.

Overall i fell some designs are stronger than other for showing my main design theme. I really like design 1 for the mask and spear design. Number 4 for the good balance in the two themes and for his bow design. Number 6 for the weapon and cloak elements and design number 8 for the mask and weapon designs. However Im being pulled towards design 4. I really like the bow because it reminds me of traditional Tribe hunting techniques and his arrows can be altered for different uses. The design still needs some work to gel together the two themes.