The Apprentice Art Nouveau Commission
Simulacrum Interactive commissioned me to create an Art Nouveau portrait of a character from their game.
The game is set in a world without capitalism, where art movements have risen to prominence. For the design, they requested a blend of Art Nouveau and Art Deco—two movements that stand in stark contrast to one another. This contrast reflects the duality within the character you encounter in the game.
In the portrait, his disinterest in a painting that paints itself reveals a key aspect of his arc. The mechanical artwork pales in comparison to the natural beauty surrounding him. If he were to turn around, he’d see a world overflowing with organic life and wonder. Yet one of his legs remains trapped—being pulled back into the mechanical world he once created.
Character Sketches
I was asked to redesign the character to align with Simulacrum’s vision, while retaining his unkempt, disheveled, and tired appearance. He is an inventor who struggles to find joy in creating, driven by a need for efficiency rather than passion.
The new design expresses his inner conflict: a longing for freedom, yet a mind caught in its own machinery. He holds himself to impossibly high standards, and it shows in every detail. His jacket features a sleek Art Deco exterior, concealing the softer, more organic elements of Art Nouveau underneath. This contrast mirrors the historical transition between the two movements—Art Nouveau, with its flowing natural forms, overtaken by the mechanical glamour and corporate polish of Art Deco.
His glasses and paintbrush float beside him—automated inventions that create on his behalf. They symbolize his detachment from the act of making, and his struggle to reconnect with the natural beauty he once valued.
Concept Sketches
I drew on a wide range of references for gears and mechanical forms while developing the design. I created two final drafts for Simulacrum to choose from: one that depicted everything as emerging from within the character’s mind, and another that showed the world unfolding around him.
They ultimately chose the latter.
Before settling on the final direction, I had tried a design of the character with a more organic, nature-inspired aesthetic. However, it was decided that he needed to appear more distinctly like an inventor to better reflect his role. While that original concept wasn’t used, it may find a place with another character in the future.
The project was completed on a tight deadline, so the ideation phase moved quickly before transitioning into the final commission. Throughout the process, I documented progress through photos and worked closely with Simulacrum Interactive, refining the design through ongoing feedback. The collaboration was smooth and responsive, and they were thrilled with the final result.
