Character Design & Mask Making: Design & Create a Character Mask

Date: 29 October

Time: 9:30am–4:30pm

Cost: £90 — includes all materials and refreshments

Please bring: A packed lunch

Age: Suitable for students aged 11+

Character & Costume Design — From Concept to Mask

What makes a character instantly recognisable?

Inspired by the dark, theatrical and surreal qualities of Tim Burton’s work, create an original character and design a unique mask that reflects its personality and story.

Explore shape, proportion, silhouette, expression, colour and texture to discover how simple design choices can communicate personality and mood.

The day takes you from an initial character idea through to a finished wearable mask, combining drawing, storytelling, costume design and making.

Morning — Character & Costume Design

Explore the principles behind character design through drawing exercises, visual research and guided development.

Discover how exaggerated silhouettes, unusual proportions, expressive features and theatrical details can communicate character. Develop your own original design, taking inspiration from Tim Burton’s distinctive visual qualities without copying an existing character.

Consider:

• Character personality and visual storytelling

• Shape, proportion and silhouette

• Facial features and expression

• Colour and texture

• Costume and accessories

• How materials can communicate character

• Developing an original design from an initial idea

  
  

Afternoon — Mask Making

Transform your character design into a three-dimensional mask.

Experiment with craft and sculptural materials to create form, texture and surface detail. Explore exaggerated features, unusual shapes, layered materials and painted finishes while considering structure, proportion, comfort and visual impact.

Test ideas, solve construction challenges and discover how materials can change the way your character is perceived.

Create Your Character

Bring your character to life through design and making. By the end of the day, create an original character concept and a handmade wearable mask that reflects its personality and story.

Combine illustration, storytelling, costume design and practical making to discover the creative process behind character design for film and theatre.

Perfect for aspiring costume designers, artists, illustrators and film or theatre creatives — or anyone who loves creating unusual characters. No previous costume or mask-making experience is needed.