Master Character Design with Lola Zhang

• Day 1 Form Language: We start from the core. This session focuses on form language as the foundation of strong design, learning how to extract, simplify, and build shapes that are both unique and recognizable. You’ll explore key principles like Big–Medium–Small (BMS), visual rhythm, while also understanding the importance of research as the backbone of good design. We’ll also break down how to gather references effectively and build professional mood boards.
  
• Day 2 Color, Texture & Workflow: A deep dive into color and texture, two powerful tools that can elevate your design beyond form. You’ll explore how to use color and texture to build rhythm, hierarchy, and evoke emotion. We’ll also look at how these elements guide the viewer’s eye and influence the overall flow of a design. Lola will also walk through her workflow, from early ideation+brainstorming to refined design, showing how these principles are applied in practice.
• Day 3 Familiarity vs Unfamiliarity: Learn how to inject freshness and unique flavor into your designs by balancing the familiar with the unexpected. You’ll explore how to take something ordinary and transform it into something exciting, without losing clarity or believability. This session focuses on finding that sweet spot where designs feel both recognizable and new.
• Day 4 Visual Focus & Attention to Detail: Learn how to create designs with a clear and strong visual focus, without overcrowding them with competing elements. This session focuses on control: how to direct attention, create balance and harmony, and ensure that even highly detailed designs remain clear and communicate your intent.
• Day 5 Bring Your Cool Ideas to Life: Building on what you’ve been developing throughout the week, you’ll continue refining and pushing your design toward a finished piece, with guidance and feedback from Lola along the way. The goal is to bring your ideas to a place where they feel fun, exciting, intentional, and believable, with your own unique twist.

We provide high-end computers with dual monitors, Wacom Intuos tablets (including styluses), and all necessary software licenses to ensure participants have everything they need for the workshop.

Courses run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break. We welcome students starting at 9:30 a.m. with fresh coffee. Our school is located at 13 Rue de Rosenwald, 75015 Paris.