What has illustration got to do with Experiential Design?

My passion is live events where performance meets digital meets exhibition and I am a firm believer in sharing knowledge with a visitor in its most effective form.

Experiential design is all about feeling.
Moving people.

In my view, there are a large number of tools available to me as a 3D Designer to feed that aim.
The architecture of a space allows a structured timeline for an immersive journey, and an opportunity to tell a sequential story.
The story is at the heart of any convincing human interaction, which can be enhanced by a multitude of traditional media - lighting, sound, live actors - and more advanced media - projection mapping, VR, AR, digital and social media.

In order to properly describe the feeling of an experience in a visual, I build the space in a 3D package then add the human connection to the design with illustration.

Often, there are new ideas in the designs, so the illustrations attempt to describe how a human being interacts with the new idea.
If the visual needs it, I add drama to the scene in Photoshop.

I also use illustration away from experiential design in its more traditional, storytelling form.

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“UH-OH” #Inktober2022UH-OH

UH-OH, the pesky octopus has cracked its window

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#UH-OH
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“UH-OH” #Inktober2022UH-OH

UH-OH, the pesky octopus has cracked its window

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#UH-OH
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

11 0
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“CAMPING” #Inktober2022CAMPING

This camp octopus loves camping

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#CAMPING
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“CAMPING” #Inktober2022CAMPING

This camp octopus loves camping

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#CAMPING
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

9 1
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“SNACK” #Inktober2022SNACK

Crunch crunch crunch - it’s snack time!

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#SNACK
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“SNACK” #Inktober2022SNACK

Crunch crunch crunch - it’s snack time!

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#SNACK
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

13 0
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“EGO” #Inktober2022EGO

Hands open awaiting the applause of the crowd.
What an ego!

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#EGO
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“EGO” #Inktober2022EGO

Hands open awaiting the applause of the crowd.
What an ego!

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#EGO
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

11 0
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“TEMPTING” #Inktober2022TEMPTING

A tempting little tidbit from this clever octopus. 

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#TEMPTING
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“TEMPTING” #Inktober2022TEMPTING

A tempting little tidbit from this clever octopus.

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#TEMPTING
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

18 0
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“FAIRY” #Inktober2022FAIRY

A little green fairy with a magic wand, ready to grant you wishes.
What’s your wish gonna be?

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#FAIRY
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“FAIRY” #Inktober2022FAIRY

A little green fairy with a magic wand, ready to grant you wishes.
What’s your wish gonna be?

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#FAIRY
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

9 0
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“BOOGER” #Inktober2022BOOGER

I read Booger can also mean Bogey-man so here is a scary octopus bogeyman
OOOOOooooooohhhhhHHHH!
Maybe it’s for Halloween type thing

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

  #Halloween
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“BOOGER” #Inktober2022BOOGER

I read Booger can also mean Bogey-man so here is a scary octopus bogeyman
OOOOOooooooohhhhhHHHH!
Maybe it’s for Halloween type thing

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#Halloween
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

9 2
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“HEIST” #Inktober2022HEIST

Stick ‘em up
This is a heist. 
The arch-baddy octopus is ARMED!

This is one of my favourites to draw so far and took a bit longer the get the silhouette balanced with the complexity I wanted for the arms. If I had more time I’d render the guns a bit better. I used the purple/green colour combo of the joker for a bit of extra menace. BLAM!

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#HEIST
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“HEIST” #Inktober2022HEIST

Stick ‘em up
This is a heist.
The arch-baddy octopus is ARMED!

This is one of my favourites to draw so far and took a bit longer the get the silhouette balanced with the complexity I wanted for the arms. If I had more time I’d render the guns a bit better. I used the purple/green colour combo of the joker for a bit of extra menace. BLAM!

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#HEIST
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

13 0
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“BAD DOG” #Inktober2022BADDOG

This bad dog octopus has broken the stick. BAD DOG!

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#BADDOG
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“BAD DOG” #Inktober2022BADDOG

This bad dog octopus has broken the stick. BAD DOG!

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#BADDOG
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

16 1
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“BLUFF” #Inktober2022BLUFF

This talented octopus has her opponents in the palm of her hand, with all the tools she has in her box.
Will she hold ‘em, fold ‘em or BLUFF?
We may never know…

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#BLUFF
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“BLUFF” #Inktober2022BLUFF

This talented octopus has her opponents in the palm of her hand, with all the tools she has in her box.
Will she hold ‘em, fold ‘em or BLUFF?
We may never know…

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#BLUFF
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

16 0
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“SCRAPE” #Inktober2022SCRAPE

An octopus keeping his tank tip top and Bristol fashion

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#SCRAPE
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“SCRAPE” #Inktober2022SCRAPE

An octopus keeping his tank tip top and Bristol fashion

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#SCRAPE
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

10 2
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“SCRAPE” #Inktober2022SCRAPE

An octopus keeping his tank in tip top condition 

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#SCRAPE
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“SCRAPE” #Inktober2022SCRAPE

An octopus keeping his tank in tip top condition

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#SCRAPE
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

19 0
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“SALTY” #Inktober2022SALTY

An octopus shaped like a salty pretzel

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#SALTY
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“SALTY” #Inktober2022SALTY

An octopus shaped like a salty pretzel

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#SALTY
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

17 0
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“FOWL” #Inktober2022FOWL

An octopus pretending to be a turkey is fowl.

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#FOWL
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“FOWL” #Inktober2022FOWL

An octopus pretending to be a turkey is fowl.

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#FOWL
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

26 2
@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“ARMADILLO” #Inktober2022ARMADILLO

This intelligent octopus has scooped up a few shells and is doing her best impression of an armadillo 

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober. 

#ARMADILLO
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator

@Inktober #Inktober #Inktober2022
“ARMADILLO” #Inktober2022ARMADILLO

This intelligent octopus has scooped up a few shells and is doing her best impression of an armadillo

Recap:
This year I’m setting myself the target of doing octopuses in October for Inktober.

#ARMADILLO
#Octopus #Photoshop #Illustration @Wacom #IllustrationArtists #illo #Illustrator
...

18 0
Graphic Novel development

Graphic Novel development

December 14, 2019

Graphic Novel I’m working on using my 3D design skills for backgrounds and drawing the characters by hand. Covid has hit the Live Events community hard, so I decided to try and develop my software skills in the time we’ve had. After re-rendering a few of my previous projects in C4D with Arnold, I needed … Read More

Storyboard Action

Storyboard Action

September 11, 2019

Storyboard action with 3D modelled background and hand-drawn foregrounds. The setting for this assault-course style scene is as much part of the story as the character telling us who she is with her actions. I built the factory in Vectorworks which allows me to fly around the set and find interesting angles to tell the … Read More

Children’s Book Illustration

Children’s Book Illustration

April 14, 2019

Some pages from a children’s book I illustrated recently. I modelled these simply in SketchUp and added a lot of texture in Photoshop. I draw the characters by hand on my Wacom tablet and colour them digitally too. Have a look at the 360° version of the little girl’s room here.

Cubist Deer

Cubist Deer

November 27, 2018

SymmetricAnimals illustration of a Cubist Deer, made with Procreate.

Symmetricanimals – Mandrill

Symmetricanimals – Mandrill

November 26, 2018

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jenny Smith (@boodoo.me) I’m a bit obsessed with drawing mandrills lately. I love their vibrant colouring and conflicting grumpy expressions. I drew this one in Procreate, using the symmetric tool.

My Music Cloud Installation

My Music Cloud Installation

September 18, 2016

So here’s one I thought of for a music-based cloud – wax pencil on a group of CD cases. For me, the brittle acrylic material captures the delicate nature of a physical cloud in the sky, and the use of CD cases and wax reference the music industry from two bygone ages.

Froggy sketches

Froggy sketches

September 4, 2016

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jenny Smith (@boodoo.me)

Illustrator Brush Experiment

Illustrator Brush Experiment

October 24, 2015

Following on from my previous experiments with an old iPad and a new stylus, here is another experiment with illustration techniques – this time