Week two - Concept and block out

My concepting work started during week one just after I'd collected my reference images and research. I first started with this quick sketch of ideas of a basic exterior idea and some ideas of what kind of things I could include in the interior.

I looked more at my references and realised I had to change some aspects from the first idea, I decided to use a flat roof since I noticed they're mainly flat in Diagon Alley and I also changed the windows to make them more interesting by including a window/door which would lead out onto a small plant filled area above the big protruding bottom floor window.

This sketch was done after I started on the block out and I realised my original interior design of a back room with regular stairs took up way too much room and left me with not much floor space for my shop floor. So instead I decided to make it a spiral staircase which are fitting to the time and look alot more interesting than regular stairs. In preparation for creating the final interior floor plan I created another reference board full of Victorian shop interiors.

I started with a very basic blocking out of the walls and floors and windows.

The next thing I did was the spiral staircase as I thought it would be a challenge and I wanted to make sure it was viable that I could do it.

I then started to add some more detailed bits and started creating some assets like the lamp post and the window planters. I added some architectural details like the window frames and wooden supports.

I started worrying about my design being not very architecturally creative and wanted to add some bendy elements to add some visual interest and break up the straight lines of the building. I created a pipe system that goes from the gutter at the top through the planters. Next time doing a project like this I would take some more time in the concept phase, getting down a wide range of ideas even if I do think I am limited in what I can create due to size or shape restrictions. I also would ask for feedback with my concepts next time so I don't start something and spend time not knowing if it will reach the best grading criteria creativity wise.

When I was relatively happy with the basic shape I started going in and editing most of the straight lines to make it fit in more with the wonky theme of the Diagon Alley shops. I also decided to add an extra element, a 'Venomous Tentacula' plant as a defender of the shop, to make the exterior more interesting. I made the plant in Zbrush and exported it into Maya as an FBX file.

After working on the exterior I started blocking out the interior. The main thing I have left to do before moving onto the next step is adding the smaller assets needed, including all of the plants, a rug, the potions and herbal remedies I was planning on including in a medicine cabinet and a Victorian till space as my main detailed asset.