Role
Product Design
3D Sculpting
Prototyping
Overview -
Tidal Snapper is an original designer toy concept inspired by martial arts cinema, ocean mythology, and the expressive forms found in contemporary vinyl collectibles. The project explores how dynamic posing, exaggerated proportions, and environmental storytelling can transform a simple character into a display-worthy collectible.
Designed from the ground up as a premium art toy, every element—from the character's stance to the sculpted water effects—works together to communicate movement, personality, and narrative while remaining conscious of production and manufacturability.
Design Challenge -
The project began with exploratory sketches focused on silhouette, attitude, and visual personality. Once the overall design language was established, the character was sculpted digitally in ZBrush, where anatomy, clothing, accessories, and environmental effects were refined simultaneously.
After the primary sculpt was approved, attention shifted toward production considerations, including part separation, draft-friendly forms, and opportunities for efficient paint masking. Final presentation renders were created to evaluate color balance, materials, and overall shelf presence.
Design Solution - The final character combines rounded toy proportions with layered clothing, custom flight gear, a stylized skull-inspired helmet, and an oversized rocket pack that doubles as a strong visual anchor. Accessories such as the spray can reinforce the character's story, while exaggerated shapes and clean forms were intentionally designed to translate well into physical manufacturing and collectible production.
Tools
Maxon Zbrush, Adobe Substance Painter, Marmoset Tool Bag 4
Adobe Photoshop
Lessons Learned -
Tidal Snapper represents my passion for creating characters that feel equally at home as pieces of sculpture and collectible products. The project challenged me to think beyond character design alone, considering manufacturing constraints, visual balance, display presence, and the emotional connection collectors have with designer toys.
It reflects my broader design philosophy: great collectibles don't simply depict characters—they tell stories through form, pose, and craftsmanship.
