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Background Design

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May 1, 2024 3 minute read

Background Design is a visual art form that involves creating the settings and environments for visual media. It is a specialized field within graphic design, responsible for establishing the tone, atmosphere, and visual appeal of digital and physical spaces. Whether it's the backdrop of a video game, the scenery in an animated film, or the worldbuilding of a comic book, Background Design plays a key role in immersing viewers in the story.

Understanding Background Design

At its core, Background Design is about storytelling. It helps set the tone and convey emotions through visual elements, guiding the audience's attention and enhancing their understanding of the narrative. Background Design is also crucial for creating a cohesive and believable world, one that supports the characters and plotlines. It involves careful consideration of elements such as lighting, color, texture, perspective, and composition, ensuring the visual elements work harmoniously.

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Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Background Design.
Classic guide to background painting for animation. It is written by Don Bluth, a legendary animator and background designer. This book is highly relevant to the topic and provides valuable insights into the creative process.
Provides a comprehensive overview of background design for animation, covering topics such as perspective, lighting, color, and composition. It is written by Don Hahn, a legendary animator and producer. This book is highly relevant to the topic and provides valuable insights into the creative process.
Provides a comprehensive overview of perspective drawing, which is an essential skill for background designers. It covers the basics of perspective, as well as more advanced topics such as aerial perspective and foreshortening.
Provides a comprehensive overview of color theory, which is an essential skill for background designers. It covers the basics of color theory, as well as more advanced topics such as color harmony and color mixing.
Focuses on the techniques for creating realistic and believable backgrounds for paintings and other works of art. While not specifically geared towards digital media, the principles and techniques discussed are highly relevant to background design for visual media.
Comprehensive guide to the principles of animation, including background design. It is written by Richard Williams, a legendary animator and director. While not specifically focused on background design, this book provides a strong foundation for understanding the principles that underlie all aspects of animation.
Provides a comprehensive overview of environment design for video games, which is closely related to background design. It covers the basics of environment design, as well as more advanced topics such as level design and world building.
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