• What Can Designers Learn from Street Art?

    What Can Designers Learn from Street Art?

    From visual impact to the ability to communicate in just a few seconds: discover how urban art can inspire new ways of designing, experimenting, and connecting with the public Most people associate design with screens, print publications, visual identities, or advertising campaigns. However, there is another creative realm where images also compete for the public’s attention: the city. Facades, shutters, party walls, walls, signs, posters, and storefronts are all part of a constantly changing visual landscape. Street art transforms these everyday spaces into mediums for communication. Unlike a gallery or a website, the street is an unpredictable environment, shared by diverse audiences and saturated with visual stimuli. Each piece must find a way to stand out, engage with its context, and convey an idea in a matter of seconds. That’s why, beyond the debates surrounding various urban practices, observing how urban artists, muralists, poster designers, sticker artists, and lettering specialists work can offer valuable lessons for any designer. The question is simple: What happens when we analyze street art not only as an artistic expression but also as an exercise in visual communication?

  • How to Carve Your First V-Cut in Stone: Essential Stone Carving Techniques for Beginners
    Teacher Craft

    How to Carve Your First V-Cut in Stone: Essential Stone Carving Techniques for Beginners

    Learn the fundamentals of stone carving, from holding a chisel correctly to mastering the perfect V-cut technique for clean, precise results. Stone carving is one of humanity's oldest art forms, transforming raw material into intricate designs through patience, skill, and the right tools. While it may seem intimidating at first, mastering the basics can quickly build confidence and open the door to more complex sculptural projects. In this tutorial, British sculptor Zoe Wilson shares the essential techniques every beginner should know, focusing on creating a clean and accurate V-cut in stone.

  • How to Write a Good Resume If You're Looking for a Job in the Creative Industry

    How to Write a Good Resume If You're Looking for a Job in the Creative Industry

    Discover how to present your experience, skills, and professional style in a resume that stands out without sacrificing clarity, personality, or effectiveness When someone receives your resume for the first time, they don’t yet know your work, your projects, or your way of thinking. However, in just a few seconds, they’re already forming an impression of you. That’s why, in the creative industry, a resume isn’t just an administrative document—it also showcases your ability to synthesize information, your visual judgment, your attention to detail, and the way you organize information. Many people believe that a creative resume must be particularly eye-catching, but the reality is that a spectacular design cannot make up for a confusing structure or a selection of irrelevant information. A good resume allows the reader to quickly find what they’re looking for while conveying a professional image consistent with the candidate’s profile. Creativity can help you stand out, but clarity remains the priority.

  • Free download: size chart for making a jacket and calculating the amount of fabric needed

    Free download: size chart for making a jacket and calculating the amount of fabric needed

    Download this chart of measurements in centimeters and inches to choose the right size for your jacket and determine how much fabric you’ll need based on the length of the design Making a jacket is an exciting project, but before you start cutting the fabric, it’s a good idea to spend a few minutes planning. Choosing the right size, determining the garment’s length, and calculating the amount of fabric needed are decisions that can make the difference between a smooth process and a series of unexpected adjustments. Good preparation helps prevent mistakes, reduces material waste, and allows you to buy only the amount of fabric you need. To make this step easier, we’ve prepared a free download with a size chart and a fabric usage guide that will help you organize your project from the start.

  • 12 Contemporary Artists You Should Follow If You Like Collage

    12 Contemporary Artists You Should Follow If You Like Collage

    Discover the work of twelve female artists who explore the possibilities of collage through illustration, photography, textile art, analog experimentation, and digital techniques Since its origins in the artistic avant-garde movements of the 20th century, collage has demonstrated a unique ability to reinvent itself. What began as a technique based on combining fragments of paper, photographs, or found objects has evolved into a discipline present in illustration, graphic design, fashion, contemporary photography, and even social media. Its appeal lies in the ability to create new narratives from elements that originally belonged to different contexts. Today, collage exists at the intersection of the analog and the digital. Some artists continue to work with scissors, glue, and old magazines, while others incorporate digital tools, animation, photography, or mixed media to expand the medium’s possibilities. This diversity has given rise to a vibrant creative scene in which numerous women artists stand out, using collage to explore themes such as identity, memory, visual culture, nature, and social critique. Below, we highlight twelve contemporary artists whose work demonstrates that collage remains one of the most stimulating visual languages of our time.

  • Free Download: Three Brushes for Creating Colorful Illustrations in Procreate

    Free Download: Three Brushes for Creating Colorful Illustrations in Procreate

    Download the three brushes used in a digital illustration project and experiment with new textures, strokes, and finishes in Procreate If you work with digital illustration, you know that brushes have a much greater impact on the final result of a piece than it might seem. They determine not only the appearance of the stroke, but also the texture, the sense of volume, and the visual character of each illustration. Often, trying out a new tool can open up unexpected creative paths and help you discover different ways of drawing. That’s why experimenting with different brushes is one of the best ways to enrich your style and expand your toolkit within Procreate.

  • How to Find Daily Inspiration for Your Creative Projects

    How to Find Daily Inspiration for Your Creative Projects

    How to Find Daily Inspiration for Your Creative Projects There’s a widespread misconception about creativity: that inspiration strikes suddenly, like some kind of unexpected revelation. However, those who work consistently on creative projects often discover something different. Inspiration rarely depends on chance. Rather, it’s built through habits, observation, curiosity, and practice. Finding inspiration on a regular basis can make a huge difference in any creative process. When we learn to nurture it every day, we stop relying on exceptional moments and start developing a more stable and productive relationship with our ideas. The good news is that you don’t need to have extraordinary experiences to find inspiration. Often, it’s enough to simply learn to look more closely at what’s already right in front of us. In this guide, you’ll find simple ways to nurture your creativity and maintain a steady stream of ideas for your projects.

  • Crochet Tutorial: How to Choose the Perfect Crochet Baby Blanket
    Teacher Craft

    Crochet Tutorial: How to Choose the Perfect Crochet Baby Blanket

    Discover the best crochet baby blanket patterns, learn how to pick the right yarn, and create beautiful color combinations for your next handmade project. A crochet baby blanket is one of the most rewarding projects for makers of all skill levels. It's practical, personal, and offers endless opportunities to experiment with textures, stitches, and color palettes. In this tutorial, crochet designer Danny from CJ Design shares expert advice for choosing the right blanket style and making design decisions that fit your experience level and the blanket's intended use.

  • 3 exercises for practicing one-point perspective drawing

    3 exercises for practicing one-point perspective drawing

    Discover 3 exercises for practicing one-point perspective drawing Perspective is one of the fundamental tools of drawing. It allows us to represent depth, space, and volume on a flat surface, making objects appear to occupy a real place within a scene. However, for many people just starting to draw, perspective often seems like a complex subject, full of technical rules that are hard to understand. The good news is that you don’t need to master advanced concepts to get started. One-point perspective is one of the simplest and most useful systems for developing a basic understanding of space. Through simple, progressive exercises, you can train your eye and learn to construct scenes with visual logic. In this guide, you’ll find three practical exercises that will help you become familiar with one-point perspective, reinforcing essential fundamentals for any type of drawing.

  • Free download: coconut brigadeiro recipe to help you get started on your dessert table

    Free download: coconut brigadeiro recipe to help you get started on your dessert table

    Coconut Brigadeiro Recipe to Get Your Dessert Table Started Every great dessert table starts with a solid foundation. Before thinking about spectacular arrangements, color combinations, or elaborate decorations, it’s important to master versatile recipes that allow you to create an attractive and balanced spread. Brigadeiros are one of those treats that, in addition to being delicious, offer endless creative possibilities. In this free download, you’ll find a basic recipe for coconut brigadeiros, designed for those who want to get started making sweets for dessert tables, special celebrations, or creative baking projects. Thanks to their simple preparation and enormous potential for customization, brigadeiros have become a favorite choice to complement candy bars and dessert tables of all kinds. This resource is an invitation to start with an accessible, easy-to-prepare recipe that can also serve as a starting point for developing new ideas, flavors, and decorative concepts.

  • Graphic novels that highlight sexual diversity

    Graphic novels that highlight sexual diversity

    Graphic Novels That Highlight Sexual Diversity For decades, the graphic novel has proven that it is much more than just a format for storytelling. The combination of illustration, text, visual sequencing, and narrative rhythm allows for the exploration of complex themes from deeply human perspectives. When it comes to sexual and emotional diversity, this medium is particularly powerful because it offers space to depict emotions, doubts, discoveries, and relationships that often defy rigid categories. LGBTQIA+ stories have found in comics a fertile ground for exploring a wide range of experiences. Some works focus on self-discovery, others on friendship, love, memory, or community-building. There are autobiographical stories born from personal experiences and works of fiction that imagine possible futures where diversity is a natural part of everyday life. What they all share is the ability to introduce readers to perspectives that broaden our understanding of identity and human relationships. Representation remains important, but these works also deserve recognition for their artistic qualities. Their visual approaches, narrative innovations, and the richness of their characters make them valuable reads for anyone interested in contemporary graphic fiction. Because there is no single way to represent sexual diversity, just as there is no single way to experience it.

  • Create your own Lizzie McGuire-style avatar for social media using AI

    Create your own Lizzie McGuire-style avatar for social media using AI

    Learn how to create your own Lizzie McGuire-style avatar for social media using AI More and more creators are incorporating animated versions of themselves on social media. What once required illustration or animation skills can now be achieved in just a few minutes thanks to artificial intelligence. One of the most popular trends involves recreating yourself as the famous cartoon version of Lizzie McGuire, the animated character who appeared in the series to represent thoughts, emotions, and funny comments. Beyond the nostalgic aspect, these avatars have become a very useful tool for creating content. They can help you illustrate conversations, explain ideas, depict everyday situations, or even start creating videos if you don’t yet feel comfortable constantly appearing on camera. Plus, they add personality, visual consistency, and a recognizable element that can help your social media content stand out.

  • Free download: step-by-step crochet pattern for a pacifier clip

    Free download: step-by-step crochet pattern for a pacifier clip

    Step-by-Step Crochet Pattern for a Pacifier Holder Small projects are often the most educational. In the world of crochet, a simple piece can be the perfect opportunity to practice basic techniques, build confidence, and create something useful with your own hands. If it’s also an accessory designed for babies, the result combines functionality, delicacy, and a very special touch. In this free download, you’ll find a PDF pattern for crocheting a pacifier clip step by step. It’s an accessible, practical project—perfect for those who want to get started with crochet for children’s accessories or are looking for a quick and satisfying piece to further develop their skills. With clear instructions and visual aids, you’ll be able to follow the process easily and create a handmade accessory that’s as beautiful as it is functional.

  • Common Mistakes When Submitting Your Novel to a Publisher

    Common Mistakes When Submitting Your Novel to a Publisher

    Publishing Begins Before You Submit Your Manuscript Finishing a novel is one of the greatest achievements for any writer. After months (or even years) of work, the time comes to consider the next step: finding a publisher willing to take a chance on the project. However, many authors discover that writing a good story isn’t always enough. The publishing process begins long before a member of the editorial team opens the manuscript. The way the work is presented, choosing the right publisher, or adhering to submission guidelines can all influence the chances of your proposal being considered. Publishers receive numerous manuscripts every year, and in many cases, a sloppy presentation can cause a novel to go unnoticed. That’s why knowing the most common mistakes when submitting a manuscript can help you make a better first impression and increase your chances of being considered.

  • David Hockney: The Artist Who Taught Us to See the World Through Different Eyes
    Art

    David Hockney: The Artist Who Taught Us to See the World Through Different Eyes

    The British painter, one of the most influential figures in contemporary art, has died at the age of 88. We look back on a career marked by color, experimentation, and a creative curiosity that never ceased to renew itself. David Hockney dedicated his life to observation. To looking closely at a swimming pool lit by the California sun, the face of a loved one, an empty road, the transformation of a garden through the seasons, or the creative possibilities that an iPad screen might hold. The British artist, considered one of the key figures in 20th- and 21st-century art, has died at the age of 88. His legacy spans more than seven decades of work and a body of work that defies easy categorization: painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, collage, stage design, and digital art. Beyond his most recognizable images, Hockney leaves behind a lesson that runs through his entire body of work: even what we see every day can be extraordinary when we learn to pay attention to it.

  • How to develop your own style in lettering

    How to develop your own style in lettering

    Discover how to build a recognizable visual voice through practice, observation and experimentation. If there is one question that comes up time and time again among those who start practicing lettering, it is this: how do I find my own style? The search for a personal visual identity can be exciting, but also frustrating. It is common to admire the work of other artists, save hundreds of references and spend hours trying to reproduce the styles that inspire us the most. However, there comes a time when many people feel that all their pieces look too much like those of other creators. The reality is that one's own style is not suddenly found nor does it appear as a revelation. It is built. It emerges from constant practice, observation, experimentation and conscious repetition of certain visual decisions. In lettering, each stroke communicates something. A letter can convey elegance, energy, humor, nostalgia, rebellion or delicacy. Learning to use these resources in a personal way is precisely what gives rise to a recognizable visual voice.

  • Free download: creative leadership mindset checklist

    Free download: creative leadership mindset checklist

    Leading a creative project starts with the mindset. Many people imagine that the main challenge of a creative project is to come up with a good idea. However, reality shows that many promising projects fall by the wayside not for lack of talent, but for lack of direction, clarity or ability to turn a vision into something sustainable. Behind every cultural, artistic or creative initiative that manages to generate impact there is usually a person capable of connecting creativity and leadership. Someone who knows how to communicate an idea, make decisions, adapt to change and build relationships with collaborators, communities or audiences. Leading a project does not mean controlling everything or always having the right answer. It means creating the necessary conditions so that an idea can grow, evolve and generate value for other people. That's why developing a creative leadership mindset can make a big difference. The free checklist that accompanies this article was created precisely for that purpose: to help you stop, look at your project with perspective and reflect on how you are leading each of its stages.

  • How to Frame an Ink Drawing Without Tape: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
    Teacher Illustration

    How to Frame an Ink Drawing Without Tape: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

    Learn how to protect, center, and frame your artwork without using adhesive materials that could damage the paper The timeless look of an ink drawing can become even more striking when it is displayed in the right frame. Whether you have created an architectural illustration, a botanical sketch, or a detailed artwork with fine liners, framing allows you to protect your work and give it a professional finish. However, attaching an original drawing directly to a backing board with tape or glue can damage the paper over time. In this tutorial, ink artist Ioana Pioaru explains how to frame a drawing without tape, using a simple method that keeps the artwork securely positioned while avoiding direct contact with adhesive materials.

  • New AI tools to stay up to date and improve your creative work

    New AI tools to stay up to date and improve your creative work

    The most relevant developments in artificial intelligence for designers, illustrators, marketers, content creators and audiovisual professionals in 2026. Artificial intelligence has become one of the technologies that is transforming creative work the fastest. What just a few years ago seemed like an experimental tool reserved for technical profiles is now part of the daily life of designers, content creators, marketers, illustrators and audiovisual professionals. It is now possible to use AI to research trends, generate ideas, write texts, create images, produce videos, organize projects or automate repetitive tasks. However, the real challenge is no longer to try out all the new features that appear every week, but to identify which tools bring real value to each creative process. Far from replacing human creativity, these technologies are working as accelerators capable of reducing production times, facilitating the exploration of ideas and opening up new possibilities for experimentation. Judgment, visual sensitivity and the ability to make decisions are still the responsibility of individuals, but the tools available today make it possible to go further and faster.

  • Free download: how to crochet a radish step by step

    Free download: how to crochet a radish step by step

    Learn how to create your first food-inspired amigurumi with this free guide. Crochet allows you to create much more than just garments or accessories. With a few basic techniques it is also possible to shape decorative objects, textile toys and characters full of personality. Within this creative universe, amigurumis inspired by food have become one of the favorite options for those who want to get started in this technique. In this article we present a free download that will allow you to create a crochet radish step by step. This is a simple, fun and perfect project to learn the basics of amigurumi while you give life to a colorful and voluminous piece.

  • Free download: safe zone templates for reels, TikToks and Instagram

    Free download: safe zone templates for reels, TikToks and Instagram

    Download your free safe zone template to edit reels, TikToks and Instagram without text getting cut off. Uploading a well-edited video and having the text appear cut off by the app interface is one of the most frequent (and most avoidable) mistakes when creating content for social networks. The safe zone is the area of the screen where visual elements are not covered by buttons, icons or the navigation bar of platforms such as Instagram or TikTok. Why the safe zone makes a difference in your videos and posts. Respecting that zone is not just a technical issue: it also directly influences how your content is perceived by the audience. A video or image where the text reads well and the visual elements do not compete with the interface conveys more professionalism, generates more trust and retains attention better. In an environment where the decision to continue viewing or scroll is made in less than two seconds, these details matter more than they seem.

  • Instagram Plus: Meta's new subscription that every creator should know about

    Instagram Plus: Meta's new subscription that every creator should know about

    Discover the toolkit included in the new Instagram Plus subscription Meta has just launched Instagram Plus, a premium subscription focused on stories with features that didn't exist on the platform until now. Here's everything it includes and why it can make a difference in your content strategy. Stories remain one of Instagram's most powerful tools for connecting with your audience. They are the most direct format, the one that generates the most conversation and the one that works best for building real community. And now, Meta has just made a move: Instagram Plus is a new premium subscription currently being tested in Mexico, Japan and the Philippines, and is designed almost entirely to enhance what you can do with your stories. It's not Meta Verified (that's another thing) and it doesn't remove ads. It's something different: a set of concrete tools that didn't exist until now and that, if used well, can give you a real advantage over other creators. These are the five most relevant functions.

  • 10 books that teach you color (and how to apply them in your work)

    10 books that teach you color (and how to apply them in your work)

    The 10 books that teach you color and how to apply them in your work. Learning color goes far beyond memorizing chromatic circles, harmonies or complementary combinations. Understanding color involves training the eye, developing visual sensitivity and understanding how chromatic decisions affect the way we perceive an image, a brand or a story. Although today there are thousands of tutorials, short courses and inspirational content available on the internet, books are still one of the most valuable tools to study color in depth. Through them we can access fundamental theories, visual analysis, research on perception and practical examples developed by artists, designers and theorists who have spent years studying this visual language. In this article we gather ten essential books on color that can help you improve your visual criteria and enrich your creative practice. It's not just about what to read, but also about what you can incorporate into real design, illustration, photography, branding or art direction projects. Why studying color through books is still so useful. In an age dominated by the speed of social media and algorithms of infinite inspiration, books offer something increasingly scarce: time to observe, analyze and understand. A good book on color doesn't just teach theory. It also helps develop visual sensitivity, provides historical and cultural context, and offers tools to make more conscious decisions in creative projects. Furthermore, studying color involves much more than choosing attractive combinations. Color organizes information, generates visual hierarchies, builds identities, transmits emotions and conditions the way we interpret images and messages. That's why taking the time to study how other artists, designers and theorists have worked with color can be a creative investment with long-term impact.

  • Typographic anatomy: a basic guide to understand each part of a typeface

    Typographic anatomy: a basic guide to understand each part of a typeface

    Basic guide to understand each part of a letter. Typography is present in almost everything we see: books, websites, apps, posters, packaging, brand identities and social networks. However, although we live with letters constantly, we rarely stop to observe how they are constructed. Understanding the structure of a letter may seem like a subject reserved for specialized designers, but in reality it is useful knowledge for anyone working with visual communication. Understanding why a typeface conveys certain sensations or how one typeface family differs from another begins with knowing its components. This article functions as an accessible introduction to typographic anatomy, a guide to learn how to identify the fundamental parts that make up letters and develop a more conscious look at type design.

  • Free download: basic guitar chords guide to start playing from scratch

    Free download: basic guitar chords guide to start playing from scratch

    Guide to basic guitar chords to start playing from scratch Learning to play the guitar can seem like a huge challenge when we observe musicians able to switch between chords naturally, accompany entire songs or improvise with ease. However, almost all of them started out exactly the same: learning a few basic chords. That's why we have prepared a free download: a practical guide with the fundamental guitar chords, designed for those who are taking their first steps with the instrument and need a clear, simple and easy to consult reference. Mastering a few chords opens up more possibilities than it seems. With them you can begin to accompany popular songs, develop coordination between both hands and better understand how the guitar works. You don't need to know advanced music theory to enjoy the process from day one. This guide is designed to accompany you in those early stages of learning and help you build a solid foundation on which to continue to grow.

  • 10 drawing exercises to improve composition (without "talent")

    10 drawing exercises to improve composition (without "talent")

    Discover 10 drawing exercises to improve composition (without "talent"). There is a widespread idea among those who start drawing: to think that people who create attractive images were simply born with a special talent for composition. However, the reality is quite different. Composition is not a mysterious gift, but a skill that can be learned, analyzed and practiced. Every time you decide where to place a character, how much space to leave empty, or which element you want to draw attention to first, you are making compositional decisions. And, like any other visual skill, it improves with conscious practice. This article brings together ten simple exercises that will help you develop a better understanding of composition. Whether you draw as a hobby, study illustration, or simply want your images to have more visual punch, these exercises are designed to train your ability to observe, organize, and communicate better.

  • Free download: outlining and shading practice sheet for improved brush control

    Free download: outlining and shading practice sheet for improved brush control

    Outlining and shading practice sheet to improve brush control. Mastering the stroke is one of the most important skills in any creative discipline that relies on manual control. Whether in illustration, textile design, painting or experimental techniques on different surfaces, the quality of a line or the smoothness of a tonal transition can make a big difference in the final result. To help you develop this technical foundation, we've prepared a free download: a printable outlining and shading practice sheet designed to work on brush control, fluidity of movement and consistency of gesture. While we often want to jump right into creating complete pieces, taking a few minutes to train your pulse can help you gain precision, confidence and assurance. This resource is designed to do just that: strengthen fundamental skills that you can then apply to any creative project. Why practicing outlining and shading improves any visual process. Line and shading exercises are often thought of as simple warm-ups. However, behind these seemingly simple practices lie some of the most important skills for any visual creator. When you repeat lines, curves or shading patterns, you are training your hand-eye coordination. You learn to better control pressure, maintain a steady rhythm and develop a greater sensitivity to the movement of the brush. In addition, these exercises help build muscle memory. With continued practice, certain gestures become more natural and precise, allowing you to concentrate more on creativity and less on technical execution. In disciplines such as textile design, this control is especially valuable. A more confident hand allows you to create cleaner compositions, more coherent textures and more expressive visual effects on garments and fabrics. Even when looking for a spontaneous or experimental result, having a good technical foundation offers greater freedom to explore.

  • Fashion history: references for today's designers

    Fashion history: references for today's designers

    Knowing the history of fashion is vital to have logical references. Looking at fashion history need not be a nostalgic exercise or a constant search for "vintage". For many contemporary designers, studying the past functions more as a creative tool: a way to understand how certain forms, materials and symbols continue to evolve over time. Fashion has always been a reflection of its cultural, social and political context. That's why knowing about different eras helps not only to identify trends, but also to understand what certain silhouettes, fabrics or visual codes meant at the time. This information can add much more depth to a current design. This tour proposes to look at some key periods in the history of fashion as a source of inspiration to reinterpret ideas, build proposals with identity and develop a richer and more conscious visual language.

  • June live: a month to create without pause

    June live: a month to create without pause

    New lives to learn, experiment and close the season with inspiration. June arrives with that special energy of the months that invite you to slow down... without stopping creating. Before summer, it's the perfect time to spend time exploring new ideas, discovering different techniques and continuing to nurture your creativity through curiosity and practice. The June sessions bring together professionals from different disciplines who will share their experience, processes and tools in live sessions designed to inspire you and help you move forward in your projects. A space to learn closely, solve doubts in real time and connect with a creative community that continues to create, even when the calendar starts to ask for vacations. Fashion trends and illustration with Josefina Fernández | June 1 | ES | 16h (MAD) Fashion trends are much more than aesthetics: they reflect how we feel, how we live and how we relate to the world around us. In this Live, Josefina Fernández will explore how current trends emerge from emotional and cultural shifts, from softness and nostalgia to slower, more intentional ways of living. You will learn how to interpret these ideas and translate them into visual concepts applied to fashion illustration. In addition, you will share practical tips on how to create moodboards, combine references, and use illustration as a space for exploration and storytelling. Join this session to discover how trends can inspire your creative process and learn how to transform ideas into fashion illustrations with their own identity.

  • 10 tips to develop a character

    10 tips to develop a character

    Develop a character with these 10 tips Creating an interesting character goes far beyond designing a striking hairstyle or choosing a good color palette. Characters that stick in the memory tend to have something more difficult to define: a clear identity, a way of acting and a sense of inner life. Whether you work in illustration, comics, manga, animation, video games or visual storytelling, developing strong characters helps build more believable stories and more coherent universes. Even a single illustration can gain strength when the character seems to have a past, motivations and personality. This guide brings together ten practical tips to help you create more memorable, expressive and interesting characters, both visually and narratively.