Project Introduction
Hvbits is a passion project created by the co-directors Tommie Hijweege and Thea Salcudeanu in collaboration with the concept artist Victoria Ganshin. This art book is the conceptualization of the world of Hvbits. Hvbits is a clothing brand meant for artists,from artists. It is meant to explore a new exciting universe, through different mixed mediums. Its story is being told through the garments, accompanied by animated trailers, a series of weekly comic zines, real-life pop-up events and finally, a mystery meant to entice its audience and welcome it on Hvbits’s website to explore the world in depth. This project was thought-out using a transmedia strategy, meant to experiment with the audience’s interest in finding out clues and details about a story that is told through all these mediums. Hvbits was born due to Tommie’s wish to create garments that tell a story, as well as Thea’s wish to create a world and a story to share with the world. Hvbits stands for “habits”, a meaningful word to the two creators, that fight with daily habits and try to imrpove their lives as they navigate young adulthood. It is a term meant for the exploration of mental disorders, life choices, and most of all, growing up. It is the the pure essence of the human form, both good and bad.
Hvbits is an inspired streetwear brand, that mixes storytelling via animated trailers, shorts and episodes with comic strips, an interactive website and of course, the garments. Conceptually, the brand is inspired by big brands such as OBEY and Stussy, as well as more underground brands like Derschutze and Maezen. Hvbits strives to create unique graphics, embroideries and overall high quality garments. To accompany the garments, the story, its world and characters bring an unique element to the brand. Hvbits is a project that wants to bring in the future a series of animated episodes, to promote a fantasy-like lifestyle, the garments being the personification of the said lifestyle. Two big NFT projects, Azuki and Chainjoku explored the concept of a brand infused with storyline, however the medium is different, therefore Hvbits is a unique combination of elements that bring to life a fantastical story about human habits, universe energies and most of all, self discovery and human connections.
Hvbits will also become a studio, for which the animated episodes and comic strips will be created, as the clothing brand itself uses the profits for funding these projects.
My role
As the character designer of the project, I was responsible for creating most of the concept art related to the characters under the direction and Guidance of Thea. My vision is very much reflected into the character designs as I have had a lot of creative freedom in designing these characters.
LUNA
Luna is the main character of the Old District. Her darker blue hair, reminiscent of the night sky, symbolizes the mystery, intuition, and inspiration that define her character. The deep blue also suggests a sense of inner peace, contrasting with the underlying themes of sadness and depression often associated with the colour (“the blues”). This duality reflects Luna’s complex emotional state, mar-ked by moments of serenity and introspection as well as periods of melancholy.
Her front hair strands, a bright pink, represent her changing persona and deep desire for freedom. The name Luna, derived from the Latin word lūna meaning “moon,” accentuates her deep connection to the night and darkness. In Ro-man mythology, Luna was the divine personification of the Moon, embodying its beauty, mystery, and cyclical nature. This mythological connection highlights Luna’s role as a personification of these qualities.
Luna is introspective and intuitive, often guided by her strong sense of inner knowing and emotional depth. Her connection to the night and the moon symbolizes her affinity for solitude and contemplation, where she finds inspiration and a sense of peace. However, this connection also brings forth the shadows of her psy-che, leading her to confront her feelings of sadness and isolation. Luna’s journey is one of self-discovery and liberation. She seeks to balance her darker emotions with her desire for freedom and self-expression.
Design Process
At the project's outset, we brainstormed the kind of characters we wanted to create, their personalities, and the narratives they would embody. Our protagonist, Luna, was particularly important as we aimed to craft a character who would set a positive example. In analyzing female leads across various media, especially anime—which heavily influenced our project—we identified a recurring issue of poor representation and objectifying stereotypes. We were determined to avoid these pitfalls with Luna, instead, opting to create a character with complexity and flaws, someone relatable and not merely an object of male gaze.
My personal interest in the representation of female characters led me to research these stereotypes and their impact on young female audiences. This research informed my approach to character design, guiding me to avoid these mistakes and create more nuanced characters. I conducted visual research on body types, starting with typical shonen anime figures, analyzing and deciding which elements to retain or discard. From there, I experimented with more realistic and diverse body types, moving away from the often exaggerated and unrealistic proportions seen in anime.
Fist turnaround tests
Character Description
When considering Luna’s clothing design, I had to keep in mind where she comes from within the world, and what cultural and historical influences are attached to that world. The Old District, which is where Lune is originally from, Is inspired by Romania and it’s culture, with a little twist in narrative where domesticated giant cats flood the streets of the old district and are the main source of transportation within this district but are also loving companions and pets of the people.
With this in mind I made some concept sketches of possible clothing designs for Luna inspired by Romanian clothing and culture, as well as some fun cat themed designs to express her love for her cat Milo.
Luna’s character embodies qualities like headstrong independence, intelligence, and a kind heart hidden beneath a tough exterior. Her character arc allows her to grow and become more trusting as the story progresses. Each character's design, including color palettes, was carefully chosen to reflect their personalities and roles within the narrative.
First concept explorations
Attempting to translate personality into design through clothing and hairstyles
Somewhere down the line our project hit a pause in production as the co-directors where struggling to find common ground in their vision of the project. During this time the art director made the decision to rebrand and change the designs of the characters including the initial art-style. She decided to go with a more realistic approach in the art-style and change the whole look of the characters in terms of both outfit and hairstyle designs.
turnaround v2 - new design & art-style
New outfit designs
These designs were rejected by the art director because as she later explained, she believes that the designs blend seamlessly with the world and its various districts, creating a cohesive atmosphere. However, she would prefer for the main characters to stand out with a streetwear or urban-inspired style. This choice reflects their aspiration to reach Neo District, a city akin to New York, and they dress in a way that allows them to "belong" in that particular district.
new designs based on feedback
Fist iterations of the final design
final design and turnaround (luna)
final Expression sheet (luna)
The way I see Luna, she seems like a sassy, bossy and expressive person who is used to getting her way. While making the expression sheet for Luna, I tried to not stick to the basic expressions too much and really show her personality through the expressions instead.
Thomas
Thomas is the main character of Tulip Valley. Thomas is a free-spirited individual who embraces life with an open heart and mind. His supportive nature makes him a pillar of strength for those around him, always ready to lend a helping hand or offer words of encouragement. He deeply values the principles of libertarianism prevalent in Tulip Valley, advocating for personal freedom and equality. These values resonate with his desire to forge his own path and live authentically. His natural, green-coloured hair resembles the lushness of nature and evokes a sense of a clean, peaceful environment. This distinctive feature not only sets him apart visually but also symbolises his connection to growth, peace, and harmony. The light green hue of his hair often associated with new beginnings, reflects his optimistic outlook and his constant drive to create positive change in his surroundings.
The name Thomas, derived from the Latin Thōmās meaning twin, is emblematic of the future strong relationships he is destined to build. Despite feeling alone in the world and experiencing a profound sense of not belonging, he holds a deep-seated hope for meaningful connections. This longing for companionship drives his interest in creating robot companions, blending his love for technology with his quest for emotional bonds. These robotic creations are more than just inventions; they are a manifestation of his desire to overcome loneliness and build a community where he feels at home.
Design Process
While my research was entirely focused on female representation, there is still a lot to be said on the topic of the representation of the male body in shonen anime as well as the stereotypical archetypes seen in male leads in anime of that genre. Which is why when coming up with the design of Thomas, I still took it upon myself to do a little bit of research into this topic in order to make both characters feel organic and realistic avoiding harmful stereotypes and promoting a healthier body image for both male and female characters.
Fist turnaround tests
Similarly to Luna, when considering Thomas’ clothing design, I had to keep in mind where he comes from within the world, and what cultural and historical influences are attached to that world. The Tulip Valley, which is where Thomas is originally from, Is heavily inspired by The Netherlands and it’s culture, with a futuristic solarpunk aesthetic to it.
With this in mind I made some concept sketches of possible clothing designs for Thomas inspired by traditional Dutch clothing and culture.
And just like in the case of Luna, these designs were rejected by the art director because she believes that the designs blend seamlessly with the world and its various districts, creating a cohesive atmosphere. However, she would prefer for the main characters to stand out with a streetwear or urban-inspired style. This choice reflects their aspiration to reach Neo District, a city akin to New York, and they dress in a way that allows them to "belong" in that particular district.
new designs based on feedback
Fist iterations of the final design
First concept explorations
Attempting to translate personality into design through clothing and hairstyles
NEW Outfit designs
final design and turnaround (THOMAS)
final Expression sheet (THOMAS)
The way I see Thomas, he seems like a shy, sweet, calm and collected type of person who tends to keep to himself a lot. While making the expression sheet for Thomas, I tried my best to communicate that through his expression sheet.
turnaround v2 - new design & art-style
Milo
Milo, the dark colored cat resembles the dark side of the moon, which also signifies the connection between him and Luna. They exist as one, this also being reinforced by the district she comes from, where their connection to their pet companions is prevalent in their day to day lives. His dimensions are approximately bigger than the average human.
Designing Milo was a pretty simple and straight forward task. Since the character of Milo is based on the real life cat of the two co-directors, the prompt was pretty clear - I had to design a big black cat. The directors explicitly asked for no humanoid designs or clothing so what it really came down to was playing around with shapes and faces.
explorations
Final turnaround
Let’s talk industry
Research & plans after graduation
As I prepare to transition from student to professional in the animation industry, particularly focusing on 2D character design, I have conducted extensive research to gain insights into this competitive field. My journey involved learning from professionals I met during Playgrounds such as Taraneh Karimi, Torsten Schrank, Brittany Myers, and Saverio Wielkens, whose works and industry presence I’ve explored through platforms like Instagram and their personal websites. I have also delved into various YouTube videos where established character designers like Ethan Becker, share their experiences, tips on breaking into the industry, and advice on building an effective portfolio. These insights have been invaluable in shaping my understanding of what it takes to succeed in character design for 2D animation.
One of the key findings from my research is the importance of establishing a strong personal brand. In an industry as crowded as animation, having a unique style and niche is crucial for standing out. Whether it’s a specific artistic style—be it whimsical, realistic, or stylized—or a focus on particular genres like fantasy or sci-fi, defining what makes my character designs unique is a critical first step. Equally important is developing a professional online presence, where consistency across platforms, from usernames to bio descriptions, helps solidify my brand. Crafting a concise bio that highlights my skills, niche, and passion for animation, along with the strategic use of hashtags, ensures that my work is discoverable and memorable.
As a character designer, my market value lies in my ability to create work that is deeply personal and reflective of my passions and cultural influences. Drawing from my background as a 22-year-old artist from Cyprus and my love for American and Japanese animation, I craft characters and stories that resonate with my inner world and offer a sense of comfort, nostalgia, and wonder. Shows like 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' and 'One piece' have shaped my love for adventure, fantasy, and comedy, and these genres are evident in the vibrant, whimsical worlds I create. My fascination with Japanese culture and my use of pastel colours, particularly pastel pink, help to create soft, inviting atmospheres that draw viewers into a space that feels both comforting and magical. In a saturated market, my commitment to creating art that is true to who I am, rather than following trends, allows me to offer something unique—characters and stories that are not only visually appealing but also rich in emotional depth and cultural authenticity. By focusing on themes of mental health, the human experience, and the journey of self-discovery, I aim to create art that connects with others on a deeper level, particularly teenagers and young adults who might find a sense of solace and wonder in the worlds I want to create. As I continue to grow as an artist, my goal is to craft experiences that evoke emotions and leave a lasting impact, inviting others to join me on a journey of imagination and introspection.
Creating a professional website is a crucial milestone in my journey from student to working artist, marking the beginning of my professional development. A website serves as a dynamic portfolio, providing a platform where people can explore my work, understand my artistic vision, and connect with me easily. The design of my website is deeply intentional, reflecting extensive research and careful consideration of how successful character designers present themselves online. While I observed that many professional websites lean towards minimalism, I chose to somewhat follow that approach for now while aiming for a different path in the nearest future, opting for a more vibrant and energetic design inspired by "The Line" animation studio's website. This approach excites visitors and invites them to engage with my work. Recognizing that established artists often showcase only their final designs, I decided to include more of my creative process. This transparency is essential for emerging artists like myself, as it helps potential employers and studios gain insight into my workflow, increasing my chances of securing opportunities. Additionally, I designed a logo that embodies my personal brand, featuring my character Nugget, who has been integral to my artistic identity since 2016. Nugget has appeared on various merchandise and business cards and now represents my brand visually through a logo that features vibrant pastel colours, aligning with my artistic preferences. This cohesive design extends to my website, where the colour palette and font choices were carefully selected to match the logo, reinforcing my brand identity. My online presence, currently cantered on my Instagram handle "Toriartzz," will soon expand across multiple platforms, all under the same name, ensuring consistency in my professional branding. This website, with its distinct design and thoughtful content, is a vital step in establishing a strong, recognizable identity in the animation industry. Building a strong portfolio is another cornerstone of success in character design. Whether on platforms like ArtStation, Behance, or a personal website, it’s vital that my portfolio not only showcases a diverse range of characters but also reflects my versatility as an artist. Including sketches, finished pieces, and animated turnarounds can provide a comprehensive view of my skills. Regular updates to my portfolio are necessary to demonstrate that I’m actively engaged in the field and continuously evolving my craft.
Utilizing social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn plays a significant role in gaining visibility and networking within the industry. For example, creating content like time-lapse videos of my design process, tutorials, or vlogs on YouTube can attract an audience and establish my presence as a professional. On Instagram, high-quality images, behind-the-scenes content, and the strategic use of hashtags can enhance discoverability and engagement. LinkedIn, on the other hand, serves as a platform for professional networking, where I can connect with industry leaders, join relevant groups, and share my work and insights.
Consistency in content creation is key, which is where planning comes in. Developing a content calendar helps in maintaining regular posts across platforms, ensuring that my presence remains strong, and my audience engaged. This approach also allows for strategic adjustments based on the performance of my content, using analytics tools provided by each platform.
Networking and collaboration are also critical components of building a career in character design. Engaging with other artists, attending virtual events, and collaborating on projects can lead to valuable relationships and opportunities. During my studies, I’ve attended several international animation events, such as Playgrounds, Animafest Cyprus, and the Annecy Animation Festival, which is one of the largest animation festivals in Europe. These experiences allowed me to not only learn from panels and talks by industry veterans but also to connect with these professionals in person. For instance, after attending Taraneh Karimi’s presentation at Playgrounds, I was able to receive direct feedback on my portfolio from her, which provided invaluable insights into industry expectations. One important thing she mentioned was exploring different styles in my portfolio to show that I am easily adaptable to each project’s requirements. Something that I believe I show very well in my current portfolio.
Another meaningful connection I made was with Saverio Wielkens, a character designer whom I met at Playgrounds through mutual friends. Our conversation provided me with a deeper understanding of his experience in the industry and further inspired me to pursue my goals in character design. Similarly, at Animafest Cyprus, I met Nefeli Chrysanthou, a fellow character designer originally from Cyprus who has established her career in London. Our shared background and field of interest led to a valuable exchange of advice on portfolio building and career strategies. Nefeli’s offer to introduce me to her network post-graduation is a testament to the importance of these personal connections.
The journey to establishing a successful career in character design is a complex one that requires continuous learning, networking, and a strategic approach to showcasing my work. By consistently refining my skills, engaging with the animation community, and staying updated on industry trends, I aim to build a professional brand that stands out in the competitive world of 2D animation. The experiences and connections I’ve gained through events and interactions with established professionals will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping my future career. As I look forward to graduating and stepping into the industry, I remain motivated by the progress I’ve made and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.
As a character designer entering the field, I can present myself through a well-curated portfolio that reflects my range and depth, a professional website that serves as a central hub for my work, and an active social media presence that allows me to engage with the industry community. I network effectively by attending industry events and reaching out directly to professionals and companies I admire. In interviews, I articulate my creative process clearly and demonstrate my knowledge of the company and industry trends. I maintain professionalism in all interactions, continue developing my skills, and seek feedback to constantly improve my work. By showcasing personal projects and maintaining resilience in the face of challenges, I position myself as a passionate and dedicated character designer ready to contribute to the industry.
PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE
GOALS PROCESS & RESEARCH