A CONFUSION OF PRINCES
PRODUCTIONDESIGN FOR A SCI-FI DRAMA
PROJECT SYNOPSIS
'A Confusion of Princes is a sci-fi space opera written by Garth Nix. The novel takes place in an intergalactic empire that is run by an aristocracy of highly trained and telepathic individuals called princes. It follows the main character, Khemri, throughout his life and three deaths.
I chose to design for the Heffalurp, a Biotek militay cargo ship. The sequence that takes place on the heffalurp is incredibly high stakes, but it also serves as the introduction of the love interest. It was also the beginning of Khemri discovering his human side and becoming less self-absorbed and a more compelling character.
Because of this, and the fact that I knew that I wanted to design a spaceship, I chose to design for the Heart Room of the ship, where the main action takes place.
SHIP EXTERIOR
My design for the exterior of The Heffalurp is inspired by a trilobite.
Trilobites are an extinct species of arthropod that lived from the Cambrian- Permian periods. Their heavily armoured exoskeleton and segmaneted body served as protection that would be appropriate design elements for a millitary cargo ship
SHIP MODEL
I made a concept model out of air-dry clay in order to better understand the design and layout of the spaceship. This was incredibly helpful in deciding which part of the ship I would place the heart room.
A trilobite's defensive features are similar to those of a military vehicle; the anterior margin acts as a shield/ bumper and its aerodynamic shape is ideal for flying through the air.
