Computer Arts Projects issue 126

An incredible 24 artists from across the globe came together to create our collectable fold-out cover this month. Many of them crop up again within this action-packed character design issue, sharing their techniques and inspirational advice – including in-depth chats with TADO and Jeremyville.

Monsters are a character designer’s dream, and there’s no shortage here, from a behind-the-scenes look at DreamWorks’ recent hit Monsters vs Aliens to a glimpse into Peskimo’s beast-making process. But humans can be much trickier to pull off convincingly, so sharpen your observation skills with our tutorials on facial emotions and sketching a caricature.

Customised designer toys are still big business, but don’t be daunted by the notion of sculpting your own: Lunartik gets out the sandpaper and resin for those with time on their hands, plus we dip a toe in the burgeoning trend for origami-style papercraft. As if all that’s not enough, there’s also the chance to win an eye-watering £10,000 of 3D character design training at London’s Escape Studios.

Next issue is print design, and we’re bringing together some of the world’s foremost designers to celebrate our enduring love of tactile projects in a digital era. In the meantime, stay in touch and share your opinions with thousands of other readers on Twitter and Facebook. Enjoy the issue.

Nick Carson Editor

IN THE MAG

Project one: Creatures

Monster anatomies
DreamWorks on creating the stars of hit creature-feature Monsters vs Aliens

Create a monster
Peskimo give birth to a scaly, bad-tempered beast with robotic arms

Designer challenge
Our three creatives dream up an original monster in its natural habitat

Project two: Toys

Tado interview
Sheffield’s king and queen of cute reveal their darker side, from cannibalistic forest-dwellers to kinky panda lingerie

Into the fold
How the growing craze for papercraft toys can help smaller designers to reach a global mass-market

Cast a designer toy
Pour out the resin and make your designs a reality with Lunartik

Project three: Commercial appeal

Jeremyville interview
Split between Sydney and New York, the prolific designer shares the secrets of commercial success

Brand character
How lo-ficharacters can court cult appeal in the world of advertising

Project four: Humans

Craft a caricature
Master the art of exaggeration with award-winning artist Stephen Collins

Convey facial emotions
Nick Savy digs beneath the surface of the human face

Regulars

Behind the scenes
Meet the artists behind this issue’s gatefold cover – all 24 of them

Big question
A killer this month: what’s the greatest animated character of all time?

My career so far
Nine years of Jon Burgerman’s groundbreaking character work