Breaking Stereotype to create Fantasy: Armoire case study

Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com
Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com

These pictures were created as part of my Designing Fantasy Workshop, developed before year 2000.

The process of designing fantasy can start with a real life object, and work on the images of the conventionalized idea.

Take, for example, the following example of an armoire:

Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com
Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com

If you look at the properties of this object, it can be described as follows:

  • A tall wooden cabinet, standing on four legs;
  • One, two or three drawers at the bottom;
  • Larger double door cabinet area above drawers;
  • Doorknobs on drawers and doors;
  • Decorative wooden trims ornamenting entire piece.

To create a fantasy version, first the conventional design was sketched. Next, interesting ornamentation was applied (stripes, borders, decorative top, etc).

Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com
Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com
Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com
Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com

The shape of the armoire was also heavily distorted.

Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com
Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com

Here you can see also some color studies, always aiming to create a fantastical, out of the norm version.

Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com
Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com
Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com
Learn to create fantasy designs with Eni Oken • enioken.com

Although heavily distorted and whimsical, the object still retains the basic properties of an armoire.

©Copyright 1998 Eni Oken