Saturday, April 20th, 2024 Posted by Jim Thacker

Tutorial: Designing Spaceships for Games


The Gnomon Workshop has released Designing Spaceships for Games, a masterclass in concept design recorded by artist and art director Jort van Welbergen.

The workshop is an advanced tutorial, aimed at mid-level concept artists looking to sharpen their design skills, and provides over six hours of training in Blender and Photoshop.

A masterclass in concept design, aimed at working concept artists
In the workshop, van Welbergen reveals his workflow for designing detailed, believable spaceships for games such as Star Citizen and Star Atlas.

The videos cover the process from start to finish, creating both the interior and exterior of a ship.

Van Welbergen starts by analyzing the brief, in order to understand the client’s vision, then begins 3D sketching, discussing how to create a mind map to narrow down the initial ideas.

Next, he blocks out the spaceship in 3D, then begins to refine the forms, focusing first on the exterior, then the interior, continuing to flesh out details to perfect the overall look.

During 3D modeling, van Welbergen discusses the importance of making design elements functional, with moving parts laid out according to story and gameplay requirements.

He finishes by creating marketing renders that showcase the design in the best possible way.

Throughout the workshop, van Welbergen discusses the mistakes he makes during the process, and offers tips and tricks for getting unstuck in your own design projects.

About the artist
Jort van Welbergen is a freelance art director and concept artist working in film and games.

He has over 10 years of experience in the industry, with credits including Marvel Studios’ Eternals, House of the Dragon, Star Citizen, and Horizon Zero Dawn.

Pricing and availability
Designing Spaceships for Games is available via a subscription to The Gnomon Workshop, which provides access to over 300 tutorials.

Subscriptions cost $57/month or $519/year. Free trials are available.

Read more about Designing Spaceships for Games on The Gnomon Workshop’s website


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