Designing a Unique Fantasy Character

Do you have original fantasy characters you want to take to the next level, but don’t know how?

Fantasy character design is a blend of imagination, storytelling, and artistic skill. Creating interesting, unique characters requires thoughtful design choices! In this guide, we’ll take you through the design process step-by-step so you can bring your fantasy character to life. Let’s get right into it!

Finding Inspiration & Building a Backstory

Every great character starts with a story. Ask yourself important questions such as: 

• Where does my character come from?
• What are my character’s strengths and weaknesses?
• What are their motivations?

For example, a rogue elven assassin from a hidden forest city will have a vastly different look and feel compared to a knight from medieval times. Do some research, look for inspiration photos, and jot down a few key traits before drawing your character to solidify your vision!

Establishing Silhouettes & Shapes

A strong silhouette is needed as it makes a character instantly recognizable. After all, things like shape language, body shapes, and proportions convey personality! Here are some examples of this:

• Broad, muscular builds suggest strength and power
• Slim, elongated forms show agility and grace
• Exaggerated features (i.e., large hands, long ears, or horns) look otherworldly

Be intentional! Does your character look buff because you wanted to draw a cool character, or are they muscular because they’re in a place of strength, or have people they want to protect? Experiment with quick thumbnail sketches to explore different silhouettes before locking in a design!

Choosing Costume & Accessories

Costume design must be intentional as it is a key part in telling your character’s story. When coming up with your design, consider the elements below!

• Materials & Textures: Do they wear heavy armor, flowing robes, or tattered cloaks?
• Symbolism: Are there emblems, runes, or cultural motifs that reflect their heritage? 
• Functionality: Does the outfit suit their lifestyle (i.e., practical clothing for an adventurer living in the woods)

Be intentional with even the accessories! For example, instead of drawing a necklace with no meaning, perhaps it can be a family heirloom passed down generation to generation, holding a certain mythical power!

Playing with Color

Every color has its own perceived emotion. Even brands use colors to evoke certain emotions to help sell products. As artists, we use colors to help people better understand the personality of our characters.

We might dress a character in red if they’re frequently agitated to show that they’re full of energy. Or a peaceful grandmother in a blue gown to show her calmness. A quick Google search on “color psychology” should do the trick if you’d like a full list of colors and the emotions they’re associated with but here are a few examples of how one might use colors in a fantasy world!

• Earthy tones would be perfect for characters that are well-connected with nature.
• Cool colors can be used for mystical, ethereal beings. 
• Purple, red, and gold are commonly used for characters with a royal background.

Finalizing the Design

You’re almost done! You have a design that matches the backstory of your character. One with a recognizable silhouette and clothing that suits their environment and place in society. You’ve selected colors that push the personality of the character and help us understand who they are. It’s time to add a few key details! 

• Facial features & expressions: Do they have scars, glowing eyes, or magic emanating from their hair?
• Unique markings: These can be cultural markings or hint at a secret magical ability! It could also just be a meaningful tattoo. 
• Environmental storytelling: Should their clothes look tattered from going on back-to-back adventures? 

In Conclusion

Designing a fantasy character is more than just creating a “cool” character. The character needs to feel alive, fitting the world they live in! Through an intentional design and distinctive silhouette, we’ll be able to better understand who our character is through their clothing, color, and unique details. Now, grab your sketchbook or tablet and start exploring new character ideas! Good luck, artists!

For more FREE lessons on character design, head over to Isaac Jadraque’s course, “Character Design Made Easy” where he goes over fundamental concepts, shape psychology, and more!