Most of my creature designs rely on reference, even when I’m aiming for something completely original or fantastical.
Using references helps me channel a specific mood, energy, or vibe into the creature, almost like casting the right actor for a role.
It’s kind of a cheat code, one that helps make the creature more believable and avoids the trap of creating an “inside joke” only I would get.
In these sci-fi designs, I pulled from insects, my own biases, and natural elements to form the biology of something alien.
Find more behind-the-scenes shots, free insights, and tutorials here: Creature Design for Games and Film
