Concept Art – Introduction to Set Design by Jean Fraisse

If you want to build worlds that actually tell a story, this is a solid place to start. Jean Fraisse shows you how to turn a blank page into believable sets for animation using simple volume building, clever perspective shortcuts, and color that does the heavy lifting.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Represent volume and draw 3D shapes that feel solid on a flat page
• Use pro perspective shortcuts to solve tricky angles fast
• Stylize forms to make them more interesting and readable
• Balance composition to create visual intrigue
• Add narrative details that tell a story without dialogue
• Use color schemes to unify a scene and boost visual impact

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Basic drawing skills, familiarity with Adobe Photoshop interface
• Tools: Pencil and paper, scanner, Adobe Photoshop
• Hardware: Computer capable of running Photoshop

📝 Description

This isn’t theory for theory’s sake. Jean starts with what actually matters on the job: where you’re standing, how you see volume, and how to fake 3D space without getting stuck in technical grids. You’ll get his personal shortcuts for perspective — the kind of stuff pros use to hit deadlines.

Then you get to work. You’ll draw shapes, push them, stretch them, and learn how to stylize them so they don’t look boring. It’s about finding that sweet spot between readable and interesting, and then placing everything so the composition pulls the eye where you want it.

The second half is where it clicks. Jean breaks down what makes an image tell a story — props, silhouettes, placement, little visual clues. Then he brings in color theory in a very practical way: how to pick schemes that tie a scene together, keep it balanced, and make it pop on screen. No endless color wheels, just what works for audiovisual productions.

You’ll work mostly in Adobe Photoshop, but a lot starts on paper. Expect a loose, direct teaching style with plenty of thinking-out-loud while drawing, so you see the decisions as they happen.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Illustrators and designers who want to get into set design for animation
• Animators and concept artists looking for a faster, more practical workflow
• Anyone who loves worldbuilding and wants to illustrate scenes full of story

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Jean Fraisse is an illustrator, graphic designer, and concept artist based in Mexico. He’s been art director at HuevoCartoon since 2015, and he’s largely self-taught — which shows in his no-nonsense way of explaining things.

He also developed his own video game, Elixir, and teaches character and style courses focused on animation and video games. He knows what studios actually need from a set designer.

🏁 Final Result

• A fully illustrated original scene for an animated production — from initial volumes and perspective sketches to a finished, full-color set with narrative details, ready for your portfolio.