Character concept critique

brianmumphrey

Hey all,

I recently started this as a design for a potential client, but he said it wasn't what he was looking for. I'm completely cool with that, especially since it was a first pass and I'm always open to improve on my design. I definitely could have pushed the explosives part more and put more character into him, but I'm a little puzzled by the comparison the client gave me. To give you and idea of the brief here it is:

" I'm looking into getting an African American bounty hunter done with the build of someone like The Rock. Him arms should have tattoos, probably tribal or a unique design of your choice. Please avoid images as they won't really be noticeable when the game is playing. Age wise Vince is in his early to mid 30's. I like the flat color minimalistic style. But if you feel something will look better I say try it."


Vince White

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Vince is Ex-Military explosives expert. After being evaluated by a Military Psychologist, he was deemed unfit for combat. In a selfish attempt to fulfill that need for violence, Vince became a self-employed bounty hunter. He’ll take any job and he does it well. The pay isn’t as important as the fulfillment he gets from kicking someone ass. His special weapon is a dynamite stick in a Zombie's mouth

-here is what I started as my first character deisgn for Mr. Vince.

Definitely room for improvement, but the clients response kind of confuses me. Here it is :

"Not loving it to be honest. Its not a bad drawing just don't like the way he looks. His body type and appearance reminds me of Frozone from the incredibles more so than an ex military bounty hunter. So before you go any further I don't want you to waste time on this version. Just to be clear thr art itself isn't bad Thanks!"

Totally cool that he isn't digging it. That part I'm stuck on is the Frozone comparison. Is my design that skinny? Also while I'm at it, does anyone feel like this design plays too much on any particular stereo type? That's something I would like to avoid in character designs. Thanks!

Xelioth

Try giving him a manlier chin. A big, broad brick-strapped-to-the-bottom-of-your-face chin. Because there's no way that the character's body is giving them frozone flashbacks, so maybe it's the face and the baldness.

I'd say try for a heroic chin!


The "Body type and appearance" thing might just mean that they want him bulked up a little bit more as well. He's pretty bulky already, but that could go a little further without seeming absurd. Try that too.

brianmumphrey

Yeah I completely agree he should be bulked up more, in comparison to the Rock he is smaller. The chin sounds like a good idea, I'll try it on him, thank you!

silkroadgame

He wants tattoos on the character's arms which shouldn't be just images,you didn't do this.I think the tattoos must be very awesome.

brianmumphrey

That's a good catch SilkRoad, although there was a reason it wasn't added yet to this version as it was going to be added in the color version so it's easier to manipulate the contrast against his skin.

brianmumphrey

Some one in a different forum brought up a really good point. My whole design process is flawed. I have a bad habit of wanting to get to the final design far to quick, and don't include my client in the early process, i.e. the sketches / silhouettes which would steer me in a better direction for the final design. Other things like the pose being head on (boring) and like it was mentioned here, the face and body size / type needs to be changed more like the briefing, no tattoos, ect make for a less than impressive pitch.