Picture Book IP

A fantasy story where any wish is possible.

Picture Book | 3D Modeling & Printing | Packaging Design - Duration 15 Weeks

The Brief.

Create a project focused on storytelling and IP development, considering what makes a story compelling, or what stories are compelling. Be intentional about the impact you want this story to have on your audience. Have ambition and think big for a project that expands beyond the academic year and into post-grad life with a scope that extends beyond yourself.

The Project.

I am a BANANA! is a passion project fantasy story about a girl who dreams of becoming a banana. It was created as a snippet of a picture book, with both covers, endpapers, a comprehensive storyboard, and key pre-production concept art. Additionally, it features a 3D printed model of the main character with themed packaging design.

Pre-Production

Designing the main character, Mae.

The story has a pastel color palette and rounded character shape language to establish a lighthearted visual tone.

Mae stands out for her sharper design, built around a central triangle for her dress. This shape contrast is symbolic of the edge in her personality that sets her apart from the town.

Her design also signifies inner desire and future transformation (into a banana) with her hair as the silhouette of an upside-down banana peel, and the banana on her shirt.

Subtle asymmetries in her clothing give her relatability.

Designing the Characters & Main Setting

Mae’s House

Bringing Mae to Life

One of the special parts of this project was creating a collectable of the main character, Mae.

Packaging Design

Packaging Design Inspired by blind boxes. Uses a simple box template with brown and yellow cardboard as a direct but non-literal reference to a banana. Also stands out on a shelf of highly color-saturated blind boxes for its limited color palette.

3D Sculpt

3D Sculpt Combined basic shapes and extrusions to digitally sculpt Mae on Blender. Sent the file for print and later used pliers to chip off supports that held the sculpt upright while printing. Sanded the model and applied a base of white acrylic primer before painting in full color with acrylics.

Assembling the Final Products.

Combined pre-production and key art into 6 final images. Posted them on the wall, set out 3D print with its packaging, and laid out unfolded pages of book mockup.