Visual Development



Skill Name: Visual Development

Visual Development

"The art of designing how stories look before they are made."

It brings together drawing, design, colour, lighting, composition, character, environment and storytelling to establish the look and feel of a world.


Core Skills

→ Gesture Drawing
→ Silhouette
→ Shape Language
→ Character Design
→ Costume Design
→ Prop Design
→ Environment Design
→ Colour Script
→ Storyboarding
→ Composition
→ Value & Light


Why it matters

Visual development helps a story become visible before it is made. It allows artists and directors to explore questions such as:

What does this world feel like?
How should the characters move?
What shapes, colours and lighting support the story?
How can the audience understand emotion instantly?


Related Areas

→ Music Composition
→ Literature & Writing
→ Performing Arts
→ Film
→ Painting
→ Theatre


See also

Gesture Drawing
Silhouette
Shape Language
Character Design

Our Mission

The History of Creativity is a visual encyclopaedia that allows you to time travel to any time and place in the past or present.