When we do talk character design, we are talking about. How it relates to the auidence, and what will they think, and who to relate it to. In black and white, this is descriptive language, I come up with all kinds of ideas/concepts, figures, creations, images. In al kinds of ways. What is most important, is how it communicates to the auidience.
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The audience could be small children, who do not know what is going on, but then it could be a grown up, who has seen the world, and is a million years old. In reality, you just need to have fun and get your ideas, out of your soft, silky brain, and on to paper. you could even write things down, or do them different.
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Just stop thinking about it, and just do it...........NIKE