Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
3 hours100% online
How it works
Concept Art: Designing and Drawing Props
Explore concept art prop design from sketch to final render
The world of arts and entertainment is constantly evolving. Now it’s more important than ever to gain the upper hand in design.
On this six-week course, explore the complete creative process of designing props for concept art. Whether you aspire to work in film, animation, games, or comics, you’ll be guided through the fundamental techniques for developing believable and visually engaging prop designs.
Discover tools and references to inspire your prop design
On this course, you’ll explore the materials commonly used in concept art and how real-world objects serve as powerful reference points for grounding your creative ideas.
Through videos and guided tasks, you’ll gain hands-on experience sourcing inspiration and setting up your drawing space effectively.
Develop sketching skills through iteration and analysis
You’ll have the opportunity to practice the core phases of prop development: from rough sketches and value studies to linework and colour.
You’ll be introduced to techniques that help break down complex forms, iteratively refine ideas, and analyse your work to improve believability and functionality.
Week by week, your drawing skills will grow, with opportunities for reflection and peer feedback.
Transform 2D concepts into polished 3D renderings
As you transition to 3D sketching and rendering, you’ll learn how to add depth, shadow, and light to give your props a sense of volume and realism.
With a final focus on tone, line weight, and highlights, your concepts will evolve into presentation-ready artworks suitable for portfolios or further creative development.
Syllabus
Week 1
Introduction and Concepts
Welcome to the Course
Learn more about this course, your course creator, what you'll be doing, and a little about Leeds Arts University.
Materials and References
An introduction to materials for design drawing, and how you can be inspired by observing everyday objects.
Iterative Design
This activity introduces the start of iterative design; a valuable process that helps you to reflect and build on your design ideas. You'll use this to start generating initial concepts.
End of Week 1
A quick look back at this week plus a peek at the week ahead.
Week 2
Sketch Development
Welcome to Week 2
A brief overview of the week ahead and what you'll be doing.
Sketch Development
In this activity we take time to analyse the successes of our ideas from week 1 and then carry them forward to three refined concepts.
End of Week 2
A quick look back at this week and a peek at the week ahead.
Week 3
Transitioning to 3D
Welcome to Week 3
A brief overview of the week ahead and what you'll be doing.
Transitioning to 3D
In this activity I show you how to take your 2D sketches and make them 3D.
End of Week 3
A recap on what we covered this week, plus a quick peek at the final week.
Week 4
3D Rendering
Welcome to Week 4
A brief overview of the final week and what you'll be doing.
Final Render
In this final activity we render our 3D design, giving consideration to highlight and shadow.
End of the Course
A look back at what you've learned over the course, and an opportunity to celebrate your learning.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Identify features of real-world objects to inform conceptual prop design
- Explore an iterative design process to create concept art props
- Apply appropriate values and colour to conceptual prop design
- Practice the use of line work to define conceptual details and communicate design intent
- Develop a 2D prop concept in to 3D using a grid
- Practice the appropriate use of highlights when rendering a 3D conceptual prop
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for aspiring concept artists, creatives exploring careers in games, film or comics, or anyone looking to strengthen their drawing and design skills through a focused, project-led journey.
Who will you learn with?
Ways to learn | Subscribe & save | Buy this course | Start learning today |
---|---|---|---|
Choose the best way to learn for you! | $349.99 for one year Automatically renews | $79/one-off payment | Free |
Develop skills to further your career | Fulfill your current learning need | Try this course - with limits | |
Access to this course | tick | tick | Limited to 4 weeks |
Access to 1,000+ courses | tick | cross | cross |
Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
Certificate when you're eligible | Digital only | Printed and digital | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Buy this course
$79/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Subscribe & save
$349.99 for one year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Start learning today
Free
Try this course - with limits
- Limited to 4 weeks
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) |
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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