QUEST CATS: A VISUAL STORYBOOK PITCH
CONTEXT
This Interactive PDF was created for a college assignment. Our instructor had requested us to create a PDF document with animations and interactive elements, using what we had learned in class as well as touching on the skills we had previously learned in other classes.
For this project, I was to put my illustration and design skills to the test. I finished the PDF on Friday the 26th.
METHOD
I wanted this pitch to have a watercolor storybook feel, like old books of Winnie the Pooh while keeping the vector assets of the “Interface.” So assets like the character drawings, the backgrounds will most likely be created in Raster. With things like the text and buttons be in Vector (created in illustrator.)
I ended up using Clip Studio for initial sketches and line-art, Photoshop to get the colors just right, and Adobe Fresco for those live watercolor brushes.
Everything after that was assembled in InDesign, along with the pre-established type and color pallet.
DESIGN PROCESS
I primarily focused on the design of the actual characters. Luckily, I have experience with this.
I also happen to have a lovely friend, and 2D animator Molly Lonigan. Her and I tend to be each other's main backboard to bounce ideas off of. After some discussion with Molly, she came back with some concept art:
I did a spin on what Molly had taken from my first sketches, and basically iterated on top of what she'd done. Things like Poet Cat's Fluffy cheeks were taken directly from Molly's feedback.
SOLUTION
It was tough trying to figure out what I was going to do, usually storybook pitches are less visual and more like a word document. However, I come from a illustration and animation background where the pitches are more visual. I think an illustrated book series like this would benefit from that.
Thankfully, the pitch was really short and it wasn't difficult to fit in all the animation and interaction requirements.
RESULTS/FINAL THOUGHTS
I'm proud of my work on this PDF, I think if I were to have more time an energy this project would've gotten more time to shine and I would've been able to polish it to a point where I'm satisfied. But for now, it was very fun to see this come to life!
