Vehicle and Prop design - Exercises, Project 1, Project 2 and Final Project

Week 1-16
Jessica Tjoe / 0361482
Vehicle and Prop design/ BDCM/ Institute of Innovation and Technology 
Exercises, Project 1,2 and final Project

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Instructions

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Exercises - Fundamentals of vehicle design

The task we were given is to practice our fundamentals to get us used to drawing the vehicles themselves. We are given a choice of 3 types of vehicles; land, air, or sea and do the exercises listed down below; 

1. Deconstructing and constructing vehicles from references ( 5 x 3types = 15 thumbnail sketches)
2. Form and Function ( Pick 1 type X 10 thumbnails)
3. Perspective (Pick 1 type X 5 sketches min )
4. Line Weight ( Pick 1 and add line weights to the perspective drawing done)
5. Applying Colors ( Pick 1 and apply varieties to obtain appealing colors)
6. Texturing (pick 1 and test with materials and texture bashing)

Deconstructing and Constructing

Figure 0.1, .2 &.3: 15 Thumbnails deconstruction, reconstruction

Form and Function

Figure 0.4: 10 thumbnails form and function

Perspective 

  

Figure 0.5: Perspective x5 sketches

Line Weight

Figure 0.6: Line weight

 Applying Colors

 

Figure 0.7: Color Fundementals 

Texturing

Figure 0.8: Texture bashing test

Fundamentals Compilation.pdf

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Project 1 - Pre-production

Our project required us to create a vehicle that we were going to be working on for the rest of the semester. I did a couple of rough sketches for brainstorming. I knew I didn't want something ordinary so I just went to town and mixed in a bunch of concepts together. Like what if you mixed a house, boat and train in one or what if you mixed a tree with a space ship. 

Figure 0.9: Brainstorming Sketches

Figure 1.5: Moodboard

I then refined the sketches into more fleshed out concepts. 

Figure 1.0: Fleshed out concepts and sketches

I then consulted my lecturer for advice regarding these designs and he suggested going for the first one. And so that's what I did and I proceeded to sketch the many variations that would eventually lead me to the final product. 

Figure 1.1: Varation sketches

After which I cleaned them up and did the lineart, adding a couple of detailed touches here and there. Lastly I added some value and it really made it pop. The tiny people were for height comparison, I had forgotten to add them in earlier so I added them in a bit later once I had my lecturer look at my work.

Project 2 - Production  

Figure 1.2: Variations (Value)

At this time I was also doing my fundamentals along with my project 1 and so I used it for my colour and texture fundamentals. 

Figure 1.3: Variations (Color study)

Figure 1.4: Variations (Texture)

By now I had a story that this was a caravan of sorts and that a bunch of kids were living in there. Lecturer gave me the hint that none of these designs felt child like enough for the narrative and advised me to combine numbers 1,3 and, 5. 

That's when I came up with this; 

Figure 1.6: Final ideation_Draft 1

I present thee, SS. Bug! a one of a kind home on wheels with a metal roof for protection, airplane wings, Desert tires for travel upon the sandy dunes of the apocalypse, sweet exhaust pipes for that fire effect and it comes with rockets! The thing is a lot more fantasy based but it does feel like a genuine vehicle a bunch of 15-18 year-olds can put together. The feedback I got that week was to start coloring it. 

I went through several changes after that like adding spikes on the wheels, damaging the plane wings so it feels like its genuinely made from scrap metal, etc.

Figure 1.7: Final ideation_Draft 2

The feedback I got this time was that I needed a way for the kids to climb on the vehicle. Unfortnately the ladder on the wing is a terrible idea so I was advised to have the rope ladder on the top deck. Also to make the place a bit more homey so I added a living space on top of the car so that the kids can rest there when they aren't travelling. 

Figure 1.8: Final Ideation_Final Draft

I also developed the insides of the vehicle's control room. However I chose to focus on the outside of the vehicle instead of the insides.

Figure 1.9: SS. Bug's control room

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Final project

3D Modelling

At this point I have already been developing this 3D model side by side with the others that I have shown on the list. What started off as a crappy block out began to take shape over time and eventually became the best thing in the world for me. 

Figure 2.0: Block out with a bit of sculpting

Figure 2.1: Update Work in progress 3D model 

Figure 2.3: A more detailed update

All this sculpting eventually lead to this orthographic of a finished 3D sculpt. All of which has been poly painted and the textures hand sculpted. 

Figure 2.4: Orthographic

I exported the render and this is how it looks, which wasn't bad by any means but I wished I had a better lightbox preset. 

Figure 2.5: Final Render

Key Illustration

Using the render I put it into my drawing software. Then I hand painted the textures I wanted on the model. I swear I didn't draw it from scratch. Sure I had a sketch but that was mainly for position purposes and I actually painted over the model. 

Figure 2.6: Key Illustration_Final

I attempted to try mimicking the art style of Arcane with its loose textures and all, it was a good try, it wasn't perfect but it worked and I honestly love it so much. 

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Final Submission.pdf

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Reflection

Findings

I may or may have not missed a couple of things within the semester itself but other than that I'd say I did a pretty good job for this semester. I find myself letting go of perfection in exchange for creativity. 

Observation

I definitely can see more details here and there. I am starting to pick up on the little bits and figure out how to fix them. 

Experience

This was a whirlwind of a course. It was a lot more fun compared to what I've heard from other people. Maybe its because they take it in their first semester. But I found it a bit more fun. Though I never knew I could actually render like that in the shortest amount of time possible to man. In any case, I'm glad i took this class a bit later than the others. I just had fun with it.