22/09/2025 - 26/10/2025 / Week 1 – Week 5
Gabriella Grace
Christyanti / 0371915
Character Design / Creative Media / School of
Design
Task 1: Personification
1. Instructions
2. Lectures
3. Process Work
4. Final Output
5. Feedback
6. Reflection
1. INSTRUCTIONS
2. LECTURES
I did a brief research on the games I like to play and I did further research on the world of Overwatch. Overwatch is a 2016 multiplayer first-person shooter video game by Blizzard Entertainment. The game was first released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in May 2016 and Nintendo Switch in October 2019, with cross-platform play supported across all platforms.
3.2 Ideation
My character is inspired by my own culture. I wanted to highlight Indonesia’s rich traditions, and Barong (a powerful symbol of protection and balance from Balinese mythology) piqued my interest the most in terms of character design. Building from that cultural base, I chose to place my character in the Overwatch universe because it celebrates heroes from around the world, yet has no Indonesian representation. The game’s mix of advanced technology and mythic storytelling also fits perfectly with the spiritual essence of the Barong, much like how Hanzo and Genji embody the mythology of Chinese dragons.
3.3 The Character
I Putra Barangda was once a famous barong dancer in Bali, known for how real and intense his performances felt, like the spirit had truly entered him. One night, during a temple festival, a violent attack destroyed the stage and left him near death. A secret tech group called the Garuda Initiative saved his life by placing his mind inside a robotic body built for combat. But something strange happened, the spiritual energy of the barong he had danced as for years seemed to merge with his new form. Now, blue flames burn from his ears, and he feels both human and spirit trapped inside metal.
As “The Iron Barong,” he travels the world fighting those who abuse power, corrupt corporations, rogue omnics, anyone who harms the innocent. But his anger burns just as strong as his loyalty. He protects people, yet his methods are violent and his sense of justice is personal. To some, he’s a guardian spirit reborn in steel. To others, he’s a dangerous monster who’s forgotten what side he’s really on.
Age : 25
Gender : male
Origin : Bali, Indonesia
Passive – Spirit Furnace:
Taking damage fuels his inner flame, boosting melee power. Overheating causes self-burn.
Ability 1 – Barong Charge:
Dashes forward, knocking back enemies. Crashing into walls triggers a fiery stun explosion.
Ability 2 – Spirit Shroud:
Summons a fiery flame aura that shields allies and burns nearby foes.
Ultimate – Wrath of the Barong:
Unleashes full spirit power — massive flame attacks, health regen from damage, but risks burning himself out.
Traits:
Hot-headed, loyal, unstoppable in close combat. A man, machine, and spirit fighting to stay in balance.
Character Silhouette Study:
Character silhouettes in Overwatch are designed to be instantly recognizable and visually dynamic. Even though the overall style leans semi-realistic, each character’s outline is full of striking shapes and layered details that break away from plain or predictable forms. Accessories, ribbons, armor plates, or mechanical attachments often extend beyond the body’s base shape, adding rhythm and motion to the silhouette. This approach makes every hero stand out clearly in gameplay while still feeling believable within the world’s aesthetic. The designs also combine strong, futuristic structures with subtle cultural or thematic cues. Robotic and armored characters tend to feature smooth, rounded forms that emphasize strength and modernity, contrasting with sharper or more angular human figures. This mix of clean, futuristic design and expressive silhouette language gives Overwatch its distinctive identity — one where every character feels alive, memorable, and immediately identifiable even in motion or from a distance.
3.5 Progressive Development
First attempt
Silhouette is too simple for the Overwatch style. Need to do more outfit studies. Sir Fitri likes the bottom left one and recommends exploring more concepts of the Barong being a robotic mask
Second attempt
New Silhouette is already much better. Sir Fitri likes the second color pallete the most for the Anti-Hero feeling. Sir Fitri recommended to explore more about overwatch character design and colors so it would look natural if compared side by side to an official Overwatch character.
Character Silhouette Thumbnail
4. FINAL OUTPUT
Presentation Slides for Personification Character
Personification Character PDF
Final Turn-around PDF
Final Turn-around PNG
5. FEEDBACK
During the first attempt, the overall silhouette was considered too simple and did not fully reflect the bold and dynamic style typically seen in Overwatch character designs. Sir Fitri suggested conducting more outfit and silhouette studies to strengthen the character’s visual impact. Among the initial sketches, the bottom-left concept stood out the most, and he recommended further exploring the idea of incorporating the Barong as a robotic mask to better align with the Overwatch aesthetic.
In the second attempt, the silhouette showed significant improvement and was more visually compelling. Sir Fitri particularly favored the second color palette, noting that it effectively conveyed an anti-hero tone. However, he advised further research into Overwatch’s character design principles, especially in terms of color usage and material treatment, to ensure the character would feel natural and cohesive when placed alongside official Overwatch characters.
6. REFLECTIONS
Experience
Throughout this task, I found the character design process both engaging and challenging. Designing a character within the Overwatch universe provided clear direction but also required careful consideration to ensure the character felt authentic and visually consistent with the existing world. The research and ideation stages were enjoyable, especially when combining cultural elements such as the Barong with a futuristic setting. However, refining the silhouette and overall design took multiple iterations and feedback, which ultimately helped strengthen the character’s visual clarity and identity.
Observation
I observed that character design for an established universe like Overwatch relies heavily on strong silhouettes, distinct shapes, and cohesive color palettes. Simpler designs tend to feel out of place when compared to official characters, making visual complexity and readability essential. I also noticed that cultural inspirations need to be thoughtfully adapted into the game’s technological and stylistic framework to appear natural rather than forced.
Findings
From this task, I learned the importance of thorough research, visual studies, and iteration when designing within an existing franchise. Feedback played a key role in improving my design decisions, particularly in silhouette development and color selection. Overall, I found that successful character design requires balancing originality and cultural identity with the visual language and design rules of the chosen universe.
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