From idea to character: A strategy for character construction and illustration in technical digital illustration training

Character design constitutes a central component of digital illustration education, as it articulates narrative construction, aesthetic decision-making, and technical execution. However, in technical training contexts, apprentices frequently experience difficulties in developing characters with conceptual, narrative, and visual coherence. This study aims to analyze the impact of a structured character construction strategy, grounded in Project-Based Learning (PBL), on the development of creative and technical competencies in digital illustration apprentices at SENA (Colombia). The research adopts a qualitative case study design with action research components. The pedagogical intervention was implemented with 20 apprentices through four sequential stages: ideation, personality and formal structure development, analog illustration, and digital rendering. Data were collected through direct observation, student portfolios, and pre- and post-project self-assessment questionnaires. A thematic analysis was conducted to identify patterns related to creative process development, aesthetic coherence, and technical skill acquisition. Findings reveal improvements in conceptual clarity, visual coherence between initial ideas and final outcomes, and increased mastery of digital tools. Additionally, students reported higher levels of motivation, creative confidence, and intentionality in aesthetic decision-making. The results suggest that structured character construction strategies, supported by PBL and aesthetic learning principles, contribute significantly to meaningful learning in technical digital illustration education.