PROP DESIGN: FROM SKETCH TO SCREEN
Prop Design: From Sketch To Screen at The Art Club will guide students through what it takes to create effective, production-ready prop designs for animated shows. The workshop explores core concepts such as understanding basic structure, matching established design styles, and developing new visual styles for your own art.
Students will learn how to design directly from storyboard panels. Where students will translating rough visual cues into clear, functional, and appealing props that support the needs of the scene. Through demos, breakdowns, and practical assignments, the class will provide a solid overview of the prop designer’s role within an animated production.
By the end of the workshop, students will be able to:
Design props that support story, character interaction, and the scene
Create functional, readable, and visually appealing props for animation
Translate storyboard panels into production-ready prop designs
Match and adapt to established visual styles
Make design choices that are intentional, clear, and consistent with a show’s aesthetic
What You’ll Make: Production ready Props for animation, including objects, vehicles, and FX.
Participants may join as Active students, receiving drawovers and feedback, or as Viewers, with access to the live sessions and text chat interaction with other viewers.
Dates
Wednesdays - Feb 18 & Feb 25
Time
6:00pm - 9:00pm PST
Location
The Art Club - Discord: <https://discord.gg/TZb8wK292j> Green Classroom
FORMAT
Class meets once a week on Discord
Homework must be uploaded to Google Drive folder before the next class begins
Active Student spots are limited to 15 participants, and Viewer access is limited to 50 seats.
THE FACULTY
Erik Elizarrez is a Prop Designer, Cleanup Artist, and Comic Book Cover Artist with 23yrs of experience in the Animation Industry. He has been extremely fortunate to work for some amazing show runners and studios, including Disney, Warner Bros, Nickelodeon, Dreamworks, Netflix, Bento Box, and Titmouse. Some of his most recent shows have been the Animaniacs, Proud Family, Tiny Toons Looniversity, and Krapopolis. In his spare time he has started doing variant comic covers for Image, TopshelfComic, and Skybound.
Erik has done lectures for the Nickelodeon outreach school programs both at Nickelodeon and in the classroom.
Erik’s Credits
Prerequisites
This is an Intermediate to Advanced-level class. In order to have a productive learning experience for all, prospective students need to fulfill the following requirements:
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator (reccomended but not necessary)
Computer with microphone (camera optional)
Access to Google Drive
Access to Discord
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On the first day, students will dive into the foundations of prop design in animation, learning how props function within a scene and a production pipeline. Through a combination of lecture and live demo, the instructor will show how to translate storyboard panels into clear, functional, and appealing prop designs. Key topics include understanding basic structure and form, matching established design styles, and developing visual language consistent with a show’s aesthetic.
Assignment: Students will create a prop design from provided storyboard panels. -
The second day focuses on refining and reviewing Active student work. A lecture will cover strategies for improving props to support storytelling, reinforce world building, and stay true to the show’s visual style. Students’ assignments will be reviewed in a guided critique, with feedback on design choices, clarity, and effectiveness.
Who is this Workshop for?
The Prop Design: From Sketch To Screen workshop is designed for anyone interested in strengthening their prop design skills for animation, whether they’re aiming to enter the industry, expand their existing visual development toolkit, or simply deepen their understanding of how props support story and style. The workshop welcomes artists at various stages in their creative journey and provides guidance that is adaptable to different skill levels and artistic backgrounds.
Current College Students – looking to build a stronger portfolio and gain a clearer understanding of production-focused prop design.
Professionals – who want to refine their design versatility, expand into prop or vis-dev roles, or strengthen their storytelling through props.
Hobbyists – who want structured guidance, practical assignments, and a deeper insight into how animated shows develop and use props.
Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, students will be able to:
Develop the ability to break down storyboard roughs and extract key design information.
Turn storyboard panels into clear, appealing props.
Match or develop styles that fit a show.
Design props that enhance story and world building.
Gain insight into the full workflow of designing props for an animated show, from concept to final design.
What You’ll Make: Production ready Props for animation, including objects, vehicles, and FX.
