Cardboard base for main Packaging Mock Up

Mock up packaging sleeve that goes on the bottom on the main packaging. Has a shorter section to view more of the figurine inside. Includes all the information needed on packaging (not including card packaging).

Final 3D Model

Modeling Cont.

Modeling Cont.

Packaging: Mocking up the Main Package

I mocked up the packaging with paper and it worked well. It was annoying to put together but it stood well. (I didn't have any string so I used my headphones)

 Next I experimented with the plastic at a larger scale. While I was constructing it I figured out I made it way too big for the model. The plastic was very hard to use. I cracked and split on one of the faces and didn't create the shape it was meant to. I will look into re-sizing the packaging, and using a thinner plastic. I will also search for more nets just in case this one doesn't work. 

Packaging: Mocking up Diamonds

I searched for some diamond nets and came across some good ones. I mocked up the ones I thought were the most interesting or closest to the staffs design.

These were just rough mock ups in paper. For my final packaging I will digitally paint my own texture on them and get them professionally printed. I need the diamond to sit on top of my packaging so I will look into how I can alter the net to suit this.

I'm wondering if I could get this printed on a metallic or shiny surface to add to the diamond affect - I will look into this. 

Linking Packaging

I was trying to think of a way to make different and creative packaging for Leben and I came up with the idea of basing the packing on Leben's staff -like I did with the potion on the playing cards. 

The staff shape is quite unusual. I need it to be big and round at the bottom and slimmer at the top. I don't plan for the packaging to look exactly like the staff (its just unrealistic for me to achieve that). 

I was trying to decide between having the package purely made from card, from mainly card and two plastic windows or purely plastic. Either way I know I want to paint the edges gold to bring that elegance and colour in from Leben's character. 

Also on my staff is a diamond rock. I will look into how I could possibly have the diamond sit top my packaging somehow. Maybe it could hide the ribbon and you simply take it off to reveal the opening.

Packaging Ideas

I decided having a box for packaging wasn't interesting enough. I think I could do a lot more with packaging to make the whole concept stronger.

I looked into different shapes and thought about using fully plastic vs plastic and card. One part of packaging that I am struggling with is how my model is going to sit inside the package. I don't want to tie it down (like Barbie) because it doesn't look how a collectible should. I will look into making a mold around my model base so my model can sit comfortably in the box without wobbling around. 

Packaging Styles from Tutors' Collection

Gary showed us different styles of packaging in class today. I was really interested in the simple packaging like boxes with a door on the front and a window underneath revealing the present inside. I think this would suit my company as their packaging is in simple boxes too. However they don't have a door and window so this could be a point of difference for my collectible. 

Linking the Cards to Leben

The cards created especially for Leben are called 'The (colour) Elixir of Life' (eg The Red Elixir of Life). All the cards will have the same imagery on them, the point of difference being the colour and affect of the card. 

I decided a potion would be an ideal way of extending your life or immortality. Its also an 'easy' way of achieving this (just like it is easy to simply play this Elixir of Life card). 

I started designing potion bottles for my imagery. I want the design to be elegant and communicate the purity of 'new life'. 

I drew a lot of influence from existing perfume bottles because I think they are well designed. The female perfume bottles in particular are very chic and classy so I tried to replicate this but also keep it looking like a potion bottle. 

While I was designing these potion bottles I had my character for reference in front of me. I noticed that her staff has a nice shape to it and is elegant but powerful. I designed potion bottles with the staff as a strong influence. I also like how it links Leben back into the cards as well. The cards don't feel like a separate part of the Leben set to another game anymore.

I still need to decide on what bottle design I will have for my final. I will talk to my tutors about this idea and get their feedback.

Playing Card Ideas

Here I was deciding what my collectible card abilities are. I had thought of the cards increasing Leben's attack strength but as she is already a strong character I decided to have the cards build up another area.

Because Leben's armor and defense is weak, I decided on the collectible cards to make her immortal for however many turns in the game.

• Red, Blue and Purple cards make Leben immortal for only 1 turn. (These will be the most common cards and are very easy to access)
• Silver cards make Leben immortal for 2 turns. (This will be a more rare card than the red, blue and purple cards but still hard to come across.)
• Gold cards make Leben immortal for 5 turns. (This is the most rare and valuable card to have for Leben. This will be very hard to come across and with blind packaging will create a 'need' for customers to buy more and more packs of cards.

Sculpting Leben

Character Poses

Because Leben is the Empress of Life, I want her to look sophisticated and calm but when threatened can defend herself. I'm looking for a pose that isn't too simple and not so aggressive. I will build a pose around the her staff, prop. 

Character Sheet with New Colours

I kept with the blues for the design but wanted to portray in a more important light than Nagash and other members of the Death Alliance. Her clothing will be cream and fade to a light gold at the bottom. Her armor is gold as well as some detailing on the staff and crown. 
I will redo the character sheet for my final. This was a rough digital mock up.

Colour Consideration

I looked into colour variations and settled on the bottom design. It is a lot more godly and richer feeling than the purple and blue design. The purple and blue design portray her more as a warrior over a superior being. 

Character Colour Consideration

Colour Consideration: I found my character had too many colours. I will keep the blues and purples to make sure there is constancy with Leben and the rest of the Death Alliance. Because she is the Goddess of life I will make the majority of the design white or very light colours. Because she was designed with a lot of Egyptian influence I want to add some subtle golds in the detail too. This will also tie in with the bone colours from Nagash's skeleton body and head. 

First Character Sheet

My first character Sheet. I don't digitally paint or draw so excuse the amazingly drawn imagery.

My thoughts: Too much colour. I want to bring it back to whites and some blues/purples. This so we can still tell shes on the Death Alliance. Also shes too tan. I want her looking really pale.

Drafting Packaging Designs

These are some sketches of some packaging ideas I had in mind. Because my toy is a collectible/valuable item I thought the classic box packaging would be ideal. I started of with the normal box and window design but I think that maybe a box is a bit boring. I kept to the box idea and tried to be a bit more creative with it.

I thought of a box design with the front and back being a clear plastic and the top, bottom and sides being cardboard with the advertising etc on it, a normal window box with a card sleeve covering the whole box and also another window box with a sleeve that only covers part of the box. I'll definitely look develop these ideas further.

Character Design Cont.

I carried on trying to combine Indian with Egyptian and I couldn't make it fit well together. I chose to continue with the Egyptian influence because the rest of the Death Alliance are heavily Egyptian influenced. 

Final:

My final design! I kept with the Egyptian style but tried to not make it hugely obvious. I wanted to portray her as a warrior as well so I added little armor -however one of her weaknesses is lack of defense and armor so I keep this to a minimum. I need her to feel like an Empress but also a warrior so I kept her elegant as well as strong. 

I will look into colours but I want to keep her in lighter colours to symbolize purity and life. I will keep blue and purple so she fits in with the Death Alliance and will look into gold. Gold would show her as a rich being, and God like. Long hair symbolizes a long life. 

Character Design Cont.

After talking with Gary we decided that instead of my character being pretty much the female version of Nagash, she should be the total opposite that she is the Empress of Life. I will give her a more curvaceous body and give her more 'life'. I researched Egyptian designs (because of the obvious influence it has had on the Death Alliance characters) and also Native American designs (out of my own interest). 

I tried to combine the two different cultural designs in this and it hasn't worked out too well. The outfit is too Egyptian and the headdress is Egyptian and Indian but it looks awkward. 

This is easily the worst design so far. But its up here to show my progress. This feels Irish for some reason and the headdress thing feels Thai.