Illustration & Visual Narrative - Task 2: Composition

Name: Caitlin Alina Anthony - ID No. 0383177

Module: Illustration & Visual Narrative 

Task 02: Character Card Design

Moodboard

I couldn't find any cards online that represented my vision, but I did find one that I would want to take some elements from, these sets of cards have the element of framing that I'd like to include in my card.

Rationale

Margo the Turtle represents wisdom, curiosity, and quiet strength. She's calm, smart, and loves solving mysteries through books, maps, and ancient sea knowledge. Margo is the team's key problem-solver, decoding old maps and figuring out how to stop the deep drift from stealing the reef's light.

Her visual design reflects her thoughtful personality: a gentle green turtle wearing a cozy pink hoodie, with a glowing purple shell that hints at her connection to magic and mystery. The card's background uses cool aqua teals to evoke a deep, mysterious ocean atmosphere. Tiny glowing icons, like compasses and books around the edges symbolize her love for learning and navigating the unknown.

Sketches

Very rough sketch is in Figure 1

Figure 1 - Rough Sketch

For the character design, I chose the turtle to make her own card design, Starting with the background I added the sketch to ChatGPT and the photo of the turtle from previous assignment and described what I wanted from it (Figure 2). 

Figure 2 - Sketch Environment

Once I got this, it brought my vision to life. After getting feedback from teacher, I asked chatgpt to remove the turtle and make it into an A4. So then I could have something to go off of when I am drawing in Illustrator (Figure 3).

Figure 3 - Revised Environment 

Element Process

I finally started sketching and bringing color into the environment, but I had to do this per item/element and layers. Figure 4 shows all the elements that bring the environment together.

Figure 4 - Elements

Then I proceeded to place them all on the artboard and play with the layers and elements (Figure 5).

Figure 5 - Final Environment

Evidence of Composition Principles

1. Rule of Thirds

The scene is divided into 3 horizontal zones:

• Top: Jellyfish, fish, bubbles, and upper background.
• Middle: Glowing crystals and the silhouette of the sunken city.
• Bottom: Scrolls on the ground and plants.

The scrolls and crystals roughly align with the intersection points of the 3x3 grid.

2. Color Harmony & Contrast

• The palette uses blues, purple, and teals to bring a mysterious, calming underwater mood.
• Contrasting glow elements that draw the eye without overwhelming the scene.
• Dark framing helps center focus and creates depth.

 

3. Depth & Layering

• Foreground: Scrolls and plants.
• Midground: Jellyfish, crystals, and columns.
• Background: Sunken cityscape.

4. Leading Lines

• The arched rock formations and angled scrolls subtly direct the viewer’s eye toward the center of the piece. 

5. Symmetry & Balance

• Bookshelves on either side.
• Jellyfish, scrolls, and crystals distributed to counter each other.
• Asymmetrical balance keeps the image dynamic but grounded.

Figure 6 - Environment Rule of Thirds

Final Output

I followed the powerpoint guidelines from class to assemble the document, then add the background, this went smoothly. Added the turtle and the customization can commence. Her name took a few font types and different 3D styles to find the final version which is: Super Sense in a 3D format. The description font is: Super Cartoon. Once that was done, I could design the side of the card, I wanted to incorporate her persona and storyline into the sides, hence there being a book, compass, jellyfish, crystals, and scripture from her shell. The final collectible card is in Figure 7.

Figure 7 - Collectible Card Design

Techniques Applied

Throughout this project, I applied several techniques learned in class, including visual hierarchy, character design fundamentals, and composition planning. I paid close attention how to scale, placement, and contrast could guide the viewer's eye and support narrative clarity within a limited visual space.

I used Illustrator tools demonstrated in class, such as gradient tool, pathfinder, and shape builder, to construct and refine the illustration. I also practiced layer management and color theory principles to maintain consistency and depth across the design.

I researched additional techniques to enhance the final output. This included exploring glowing effects, soft shadows, and to create atmospheric depth using blur and transparency. These helped me bring more visual richness to the card, aligning with the magical and mysterious character. 

Self Reflection

This project helped me deepen my understanding of visual hierarchy. I learned how to guide the viewer's attention, from the artwork itself to the character's name and then the details, having clarity and flow. Working in Illustrator pushed me to explore a wider range of tools to bring my vision to life. I became more confident using features like gradient tool, blur effects, and the shape builder, which allowed me to refine both the technical and aesthetic aspects of the piece. If I had more time, I would have liked to include more playable card-like elements, such as stats or icons, to make the design feel more interactive and game-ready.

Overall, this process taught me how to combine storytelling with design, and how each visual choice, subtle or bold, plays a role in communicating the character's personality and function.