Narrative Character Design | The Gnomon Workshop

In this workshop, Ryan Meinerding shares his workflow for designing characters that effectively illustrate a story's narrative. Ryan begins by discussing how to create iconic and memorable characters, creating a legitimate reality, framing characters by values the audience should judge them by, empathy and story. He illustrates these topics by evaluating some popular examples from film and animation to explains the importance of thinking about Character vs Character, Character vs Environment, Visual Design vs True Character and Range of Change. For the demonstration of this workshop, he begins by breaking down the Story that will inspire design; an old man, Arnold, who develops superhuman strength and the surrounding story points. Ryan then uses Adobe Photoshop to design the Range of Change for Arnold's character from a frail old man, to his new disguised strengths, to his empowerment as a super hero. While sharing timelapses of design and development, Ryan's workflow is revealed as he explains how decisions are made, exploration, reference and thought process. For those looking to further their understanding of how to approach Narrative Character Design, this workshop offers invaluable insights from one of the industry's leading artists.

5 Lessons

01Narrative Character Design TheoryFree

Ryan Meinerding’s approach to character design prioritizes function over aesthetics, treating every visual choice as a storytelling opportunity in this workshop. Artists learn that effective character design communicates identity and personal growth. The most powerful character designs work on multiple levels, using visual contrast and progression to make narrative themes immediately readable to audiences.

Duration: 32m 22s

Narrative Character Design Theory

02Story

Professional character designers translate story beats into visual concepts by identifying important character stages and establishing specific design goals for each phase. Successful character design requires understanding which emotional beats to convey and how the visual journey reflects the story arc. By breaking down characters into distinct stages, Ryan creates a roadmap for developing compelling, marketable visuals that serve the narrative and project tone.

Duration: 18m 16s

Story

03Range Of Change - Part 1

Ryan’s painting demonstration illustrates how thoughtful character design combines technical skill with storytelling. Artists learn to establish clear visual features and understand how posture, facial structure, and wrinkle patterns communicate age and personality. This initial character design establishes the crucial starting point for the character's range of change.

Duration: 30m 53s

Range Of Change - Part 1

04Range Of Change - Part 2

This lesson shows how character design requires thinking beyond a single iconic image to encompass the character's entire journey. By developing multiple versions of Arnold that maintain core visual elements, Ryan creates a visually compelling and narratively meaningful character arc. Careful consideration of costume symbolism, color theory, and design choices demonstrates that effective character design is deeply integrated with storytelling.

Duration: 40m 41s

Range Of Change - Part 2

05Range Of Change - Part 3

This last lesson demonstrates that effective costume design acts as a visual representation of character transformation. By using color, silhouette, and detail purposefully, artists create costumes that communicate story beats without dialogue. Ryan encourages artists to always start with character problems, flaws, and personal journeys rather than just powers or designs.

Duration: 21m 14s

Range Of Change - Part 3

Primary tools

For this workshop you’ll need:

* Note that these programs and materials will not be supplied with the course.

Skills Covered

character design concept art digital painting

Who’s this Workshop for?

This workshop is designed for intermediate to advanced concept artists, character designers, and visual development artists working in the entertainment industry. It's particularly valuable for professionals in film, animation, and gaming who want to strengthen their character design approach.

Illustrators, storyboard artists, and aspiring entertainment designers will also benefit from Ryan Meinerding’s industry insights. Students and self-taught artists looking to understand professional character design workflows and storytelling principles will gain an invaluable perspective on creating characters that serve the overall narrative.

Learning Outcomes

By completing this workshop, artists will have developed a comprehensive understanding of narrative-driven character design principles and professional industry workflows.

Key skills include:

How to create iconic and memorable characters that effectively support the story’s narrative.
How to establish a sense of grounded reality and believable character foundations in design work.
How to frame characters through values that guide audience perception and judgment.
How to balance visual design elements with true character development and storytelling needs.
How to design character transformation arcs showing a complete range of narrative change.
How to use professional workflows for efficient character development processes.
How to make informed design decisions through reference gathering and exploration techniques.

Instructor Ryan Meinerding Head of Visual Development at Marvel Studios

Ryan Meinerding is the Head of Visual Development at Marvel Studios, where he has been instrumental in shaping the visual identity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since its inception. His work encompasses character design, costume development, and keyframe illustration, contributing to the cohesive and iconic look of the MCU.

Ryan's notable contributions include designing the Iron Man armor, developing costumes for Captain America, Thor, and Spider-Man, and overseeing visual development for films such as The Avengers, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. He has also played a significant role in Marvel's animated projects, including What If...?.

In addition to his film work, Ryan's art has been showcased in exhibitions and publications, such as Marvel Studios: The Art of Ryan Meinerding, which offers an in-depth look at his creative process and contributions to the MCU.

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Frequently asked questions

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