The Laughing Academy
'The Laughing Academy' was my Honours Project for my BA in Computer Arts at Abertay University. The project was centred around a character-focused artbook, divided into four separate chapters. Each chapter within the book was based upon a different school of science, and incorporated different themes of horror and phobias into the character designs.
The Artbook
1. School of the Hive
The first School in the artbook is based upon the science of botany, as well as the fear of insects and foreign flora. Each of the four schools made a Faustian deal with otherworldly entities, and this groups designs are based upon the search for knowledge, with the characters becoming more insect-like as they are brought into a hive mind.
Character Concept Process:
2. School of the Buried
The second School in the artbook is based upon the science of geology, as well as the fear of feeling trapped and claustrophobic. The idea of the Faustian bargain for this school was based on wealth, with the designs reflecting this by showing how they have become literally blinded by their own greed, forced to use unreliable exoskeletons to feel through the dark caverns.
Character Concept Process:
3. School of the Drowned
The third School in the artbook is based upon the science of oceanography, as well as the fear of a persons own imperfections and flaws. The bargain of this school was based around the idea of vanity, with the scientists slowly becoming more amphibious, and disguising themselves with precious jewels and treasures found from sunken wrecks.
Character Concept Process:
4. School of the Abyss
The fourth and final School in the artbook is based upon the science of astronomy, as well as the fear of cosmic horrors, and struggles in power. The Faustian deal of this school was based upon the need for ever-increasing amounts of power, with the designs showing how the scientist will augment their own bodies for it, and take the energy from others to power their machinery.
Character Concept Process:
5. Graphic Design Process
The creation of the artbook involved several different skillsets in both illustration and graphic design. As I wanted the book to seem as though it was at least partially written from an in-universe perspective, I chose to give the book a more old-fashioned aesthetic, while the various logos and iconography were kept simple to ensure the focus was on the character concepts:
Graphic Design Elements Development:
