4 Ways to Improve your Concept Art Design Skills

Summary

In this video, Tim McBurney, a professional artist with over 20 years of experience, discusses the key aspects of improving design skills, particularly for concept artists in the video game and film industries. He outlines four main areas of focus: understanding design ethos, developing a research methodology, mastering the design process, and working professionally within the industry. McBurney emphasizes the importance of tailoring one's design process to their unique strengths and the value of learning from various disciplines to create more compelling and functional designs.

Takeaways

• 🎨 **Understanding Design Ethos**: Reading books and immersing oneself in the theory of design across various industries can enrich one's design process and provide a broader perspective.
• 🔍 **Research Methodology**: Developing a personal research process tailored to one's thinking style is crucial for gathering detailed information and references that can enhance design uniqueness.
• 🤖 **Design Process**: Concept art tutorials often focus on process, but it's the thought process behind design that's most important. Finding a personal design process can lead to more effective and enjoyable work.
• 🏗 **Silhouette Focus**: In certain projects, particularly in games with limited visual detail or fast-paced action, focusing on silhouettes and big shapes is essential for clear communication of design.
• 👥 **Working Professionally**: Understanding the specific needs and constraints of the industry, such as the cost of rigging in video games, can make a designer more employable by aligning their work with production realities.
• 🧩 **Variation Skill**: The ability to create interesting variations within the constraints of a production environment, like using the same animation rig for different characters, is a valuable skill in the gaming industry.
• 📚 **Continuous Learning**: Continuously improving one's understanding of design ethos, refining the research process, and learning industry-specific skills are vital for staying employable and relevant.
• 🛠 **Tool Use**: Utilizing tools like thumbnail sketches effectively can help in ideating and focusing on primary forms, but it's not always the starting point for every design.
• 🌐 **Industry Specificity**: Being industry-specific in one's design approach and understanding the technical limitations and common practices can significantly improve the applicability of one's work.
• 🎭 **Iconography vs. Functionality**: Depending on the project, the focus may shift between iconography, which is important for creating recognizable symbols, and functionality, which is crucial for designs that need to serve a purpose.
• 📈 **Personal Growth**: Personal development in areas such as working within a team and understanding production environments is as important as improving artistic and design skills.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Tim McBurney's discussion in the video?

The main focus of Tim McBurney's discussion is on how to improve the design aspect of one's craft, particularly for artists working in the video game and film industries.

How many key areas does Tim McBurney identify for improving design skills?

Tim McBurney identifies four key areas for improving design skills: understanding design ethos, research methodology, the design process itself, and working professionally in the industry.

Why is understanding a design ethos important for a concept artist?

Understanding a design ethos is important because it lays a foundational understanding of the theory of design, allowing artists to bring diverse elements into their work, resulting in more unique and interesting designs.

What does Tim McBurney suggest as a way to immerse oneself in the design ethos?

Tim McBurney suggests reading books from various industries, such as advertising with 'Ogilvy on Advertising', to understand the theory and ethos of design and how it applies across different fields.

How does Tim McBurney define the research process for concept artists?

The research process for concept artists involves developing a methodology to understand both the functionality of the subject being designed and the iconography or expectations of the audience.

What is the significance of a tailored research process for an artist?

A tailored research process is significant because it allows the artist to understand the subject matter in detail, enabling them to extract unique ideas and nuances that others might miss.

What does Tim McBurney suggest as a method to avoid getting too focused on video game-specific concept art?

Tim McBurney suggests looking at architecture, industrial design, and understanding the design process in different industries to bring in fresh perspectives and avoid getting stuck in the weeds of video game-specific concept art.

Why is the design process important for concept artists?

The design process is important because it's how artists take ideas from their heads and turn them into tangible designs. It's a personal and often industry-specific method that needs to be efficient and adaptable.

What is the role of the design process in creating concept art for video games?

In video game concept art, the design process helps in creating characters and environments that are not only visually appealing but also functional within the game's technical limitations and animation requirements.

How does Tim McBurney view the importance of working professionally in the context of concept art?

Tim McBurney views working professionally as a separate skill that is crucial for employability. It involves understanding the specific needs and constraints of the industry, such as the cost of rigging in video games, and being able to contribute effectively in a production environment.

What are some of the industry-specific challenges that concept artists working in video games might face?

Some industry-specific challenges include designing characters that are compatible with animation rigs, creating variations of characters or creatures that are visually distinct yet share the same base model for cost-effectiveness, and understanding the technical limitations of different gaming platforms.

What advice does Tim McBurney give for artists looking to improve their concept art skills?

Tim McBurney advises artists to focus on four main areas: understanding design ethos, developing a research methodology, refining their design process, and working professionally within the industry. He also emphasizes the importance of finding a unique process that works for each individual artist.