Problem
Comic artists are suffering!
Comic artists often work under demanding and frequent update schedules, especially in serialized formats like webcomics or weekly publications. This constant need to produce new content leaves little time for intricate tasks like background creation, which are time-consuming but essential for visual storytelling. As a result, many artists experience creative fatigue and burnout.
To get work done, they must hire assistants, yet adding to all the cost, one artists claims that they have a hourly rate of $5/hr?!
Final Design
Stylized 3D modeling software
Our final deliverable is a 3D modeling tool specifically designed to help comic artists quickly create unique and stylized 3D backgrounds, streamlining their workflow and enhancing visual storytelling.
Clean and Simple UI
A clean, intuitive interface designed to boost productivity while reducing the learning curve for first-time users. It offers all the essential tools for 3D modeling and stylized rendering in one cohesive environment.
Materials
Streamlined material management and editing features that make creating, applying, and customizing materials fast and intuitive
UV Edit
Integrated UV editing and embedded decal layer functionality for precise texture control and enhanced surface detailing.
Outlines
One-click outline effect with optional dashed line styling to emulate a hand-drawn aesthetic.
Lighting
Convert PNG images into skyboxes with integrated lighting controls to adjust both environmental ambiance and directional lighting for scene customization.
Cloud and Community
Cloud-based backup for models and assets, with integrated access to a community-driven asset library for browsing and downloading shared content.
Render and Export
"Render and export backgrounds with customizable camera settings—including lens type, field of view (FOV), and perspective adjustments—for seamless integration into comic panels or illustrated scenes.
Process
Week 1-2
Research
Competitive Analysis
Pain point + Opportunities
Target Audience Market
Week 3
Ideation
MoodBoard
Brainstorm
UX Strategy
Week 4-8
Design
Information Architecture
Components
3D Modeling
Lo-Fi to Hi-Fi Design
Week 8-10
Optimization
Video Editing
Refinement
Research
Dive deep into 3D
Once I understood the struggles comic authors face with background creation, I set out to explore how 3D tools could make their work easier and more efficient.
Competitive Analysis
Reviewing leading 3D modeling software and artist tools.
I conducted a comparative analysis of current 3D modeling software and popular artist tools to uncover their strengths, identify usability gaps, and understand user expectations across creative workflows.
Ideation
3 Design Principle
After thoroughly analyzing current 3D software, I developed three core design principles tailored to the needs of artistic rendering and modeling.
Create a non-photorealistic rendering style, or visual language, that users can rely on to produce characterful output with very little setup time.
Provide users with full modeling and shading functionality, while also providing an approachable interface that new users will want to engage with.
Create workflows that are minimally interruptive, providing intelligent defaults, contextual tools, and short-cut shortcuts to allow users to remain in a state of creativity.
Identity
Relax and calming for the artists.
Knowing this might be many artists’ first experience with 3D software, I aimed to create a calm and welcoming atmosphere. The overall visual style is inspired by clouds and sky— soft, airy, and approachable—to reduce intimidation and support creative flow.
Iteration
Clarity First: Reducing Features to Amplify Impact
Over the 10-week design process, I explored many ideas, but ultimately chose to remove most of them to keep the project focused and intentional.
Viewport UI
I removed the left sidebar to give 3D artists more space in the viewport, recognizing that modeling requires as much screen real estate as possible for precision and focus.
AI checklist Feature
I originally planned an AI assistant that taught users how to use Flatify and build specific models step-by-step. In the end, I removed it, as the concept was strong enough to stand alone as its own product.
Cloud and Community Display
Rather than prioritizing a homepage, I integrated community access into the workspace to support a faster, more focused modeling workflow. The core of this project is modeling, and I wanted every design choice to reinforce that.
Conclusion
What I learned?
By intentionally removing non-essential elements, I was able to create a more streamlined and purposeful experience. This approach ensures that users aren't overwhelmed by options and can instead concentrate on what matters most: the core modeling workflow. Simplifying the interface in this way not only improves usability but also reinforces the product’s identity and intent.
If I had more time...
I plan to collaborate with friends from computer science to begin prototyping the modeling software and explore bringing the concept to life.
