Glitchez

A World of Digital Collisions

The Glitchez are a collection of characters formed in a world of digital collisions. In this world nothing is a singular entity, all existences are formed of at least two digital collisions leading to some crazy combinations. We created this overarching narrative of mashed-up beings to create an inspirational platform for character and brand design and storytelling. The universe is inspired by a common and relatively recent reference point in children’s vocabulary, driven by the growth in digital interactions. Many will have experienced game Glitches which create unique and abstract moments in digital experiences.

Our experience in the sector of toy design is considerable and over the years we have expanded our skill set beyond core product design to include several supporting and complimentary services. Character design is one such service we offer to clients who want to create engaging brand ambassadors, we have the experience to also translate the designs into production solutions using several materials.The character design process is similar to core product design however the character needs to be carefully designed to engage with the target audience, face scale, pose and eye positioning are particularly crucial. In cases where the characters will be manufactured scale, materials and functionality need to be considered from the outset.

Once we had a fixed narrative we explored several character designs in loose sketch format, considering which abstract items should be glitched together to create engaging forms. Using the final sketches as a reference we created impactful visuals using Adobe software suite, we selected bright and dramatic colours to represent the digital world and integrate pixel formations within the characters that reference the digital collision.

To move the characters into 3D forms we used Digital sculpting tools, creating the form using digital clay modelling. This data can be used for several outputs, including, prototyping, HD 3D visualisation and manufacturing. The type of software used to create fluid forms such as characters is very different to the engineering-based cad platforms utilised in the design of volume-manufactured products. To help us review the form and scale we 3D printed various samples using our Formlabs form 3L printer. This printer delivers a fine surface finish which is perfect for HD prototypes with complex surfaces.To work with the characters and narrative we had created we designed a brand icon, referencing the core colours of the characters and the glitch wow moment when the characters are fused using a lightning bar to signify the key Glitch moment.

CLIENT

SECTOR

DISCIPLINES