Creature of the Hauraki

Once again we are pleased to announce a CGNZ design challenge in conjunction with the relaunched White Cloud Worlds Workshop. For the first time the Workshop is coming to Auckland, and we are giving you the chance to win a spot plus other great prizes.

Run by senior concept designers from Weta Workshop, the intense 2-day workshop gives students an introduction to the fundamental conceptual and technical skills employed in concept design.

Your challenge for this competition is to design either the creature or protagonist for a new TV series set in Auckland 110 years ago.

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Design Brief

The year is 1900. Victorian Auckland has been swept up by the industrial revolution, becoming New Zealand’s largest city. New year’s celebrations are just wrapping up and people are cautiously stepping into the next millennium, when an awesome uncertainty presents itself.
Reports are emerging of a being from the Gulf, a creature of the Hauraki – heading straight for Auckland City.

What is this thing, where has it emerged from and what is it’s intention? Is it aggressive, friendly or apathetic?

Your task is to design this creature or being. There are no restrictions to what you may do. It can be an animal or human, mythical or mechanical. It can be any size, mood or style – from the future, steam-punk or just plain weird. You must, however, be able to justify your design decisions and are required to submit a design rationale as part of your submission.

Alternatively, you may also design the Series’ protagonist character, a photographer assistant for The Auckland Tribune Newspaper. She has journalistic ambitions, and in the panic and turmoil manages to ‘acquire’ a camera from the press department, documenting the events as they unfold.

Additional Information

You can be creative as you want in designing your creature, but make sure your design decisions are justifiable and explained in the accompanying rationale.

You should strive for some level of historic accuracy should you choose to design The Auckland Tribune photographer/journalist. A great place to start your research is the Auckland Heritage Database and Digital NZ.

 

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The Prizes

FIRST PRIZE

One Free Admission to the 26-27 March : 2D White Cloud Worlds Workshop in Auckland PLUS a signed copy of White Cloud Worlds. Winning entry to be judged by Paul Tobin and Warren Mahy.

ADDITIONAL PRIZES

All valid entries also go in the draw for:

- One signed copy of The Art of District 9
- One Slip Case edition of D’artiste Matte Painting Master Class book

Submission Criteria

» A single piece of character design as a high quality digital image.
» Include a concise written paragraph explaining your concept.
» You MUST create a WIP thread in the competitions forum.

• You are welcome and encouraged to design both characters, but can only submit 1 as a final entry.
• The design may be 2d or 3d, and can be either traditional or digital mediums.
• The final piece should be created over the competition period, specifically for this competition. Please don’t submit older pieces or commercial work.

Duration

The final submission deadline is: 11:00pm NZT on Wednesday 23 March, 2011

How to enter

You must be registered as a member of CGNZ and start a new WIP topic in the ‘CGNZ Competitions‘ forum. You MUST create a WIP thread in the competitions forum, documenting the steps you have taken to create your design.

» Title your WIP thread as: ” USERNAME : Creature of the Hauraki”

Simply post your final entry, along with your rationale in the final submissions thread, located at the top of the forum. Don’t forget to include your username at the bottom of your final images, on the actual image files.

Good Luck!

The Small print

• All entrants will retain copyright of all their submissions.
• Only people currently living in New Zealand may enter and you must also:
  a) Be a resident of New Zealand OR b) Hold a current work or study permit/visa for New Zealand.
• First prize winner is responsible for organising their own travel & accommodation to the event. If you are unable to attend the workshop, the ticket prize will be given to the second place winner.
• If you are already registered for the upcoming March 26th Workshop and win first prize you will receive a refund.
• Prizes not exchangeable or redeemable for cash.