BBC SUPERHEROES
- Advertisment Design
Introduction:
While working for SlackPress Studios (a video production company), we landed a tender from the BBC to create an English and Media training course for BBC Bitesize.
One of the sections focused on narrative structure, and to bring it to life, the two presenters would be transformed into illustrated characters. I pitched the idea of superheroes, and from there, a story was born.
Inspiration & Research:
I’ve been into superheroes and comics for as long as I can remember, so you could say I’d been preparing for this project my entire life. For stylistic inspiration, I drew from the retro comic book aesthetic, particularly the work of Darren Young, among others.
To ensure the characters’ poses felt dynamic and natural, we had the presenters act out scenes to match key moments in the story. These became reference points for my illustrations.
Design process:
With the concept locked in, I started sketching the presenters to establish their superhero look. Using Procreate, I refined their designs, referencing stock images where needed—like for a radioactive hamster (yes, really). When required, I Photoshopped reference collages to piece together elements I couldn’t source directly.
After sketching, I cleaned up the linework in Procreate, first refining the rough shapes, then inking over them with bold comic-style outlines. Once the illustrations were solid, I moved on to coloring, keeping that classic comic book vibrancy. I then exported the artwork to Photoshop, where I added halftone textures, distressed paper edges, and other retro-style effects to give it an authentic printed look.
Final Design:
With all the illustrations complete, sound effects, textures, and all. It was time to hand them over to the animator for the final sequence. The result? A visually engaging, comic-inspired lesson that made narrative structure feel like an epic superhero adventure.