Character Design for Writing Main Characters in Sci-Fi

Casey Hudson
Jun 2
4 min read

Updated: Jul 1

Appearance is one of the cornerstones of character design. And while it may seem simple to write a basic character description, the complexities of sci-fi can make it much more challenging.

What does the character’s species look like? How do they incorporate technology? Perhaps they have blue fur or nanotech clothes.

Where to begin describing a world unlike any other?

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Character Design for Unconventional Character Appearances

It’s common to think of the basics when approaching character description.

Red hair. Brown eyes. Thin.

Those baseline descriptions are important–no matter the species. But, the average person’s default when hearing these descriptors is “human”.

In this case? I was describing a po’ongabel from my Drifting Amalgams universe. Similar to humans: Sure. But definitely closer to orangutans. So where do I start with character descriptions of non-humans?

The most obvious baseline is biological shape. In this case: Primate.

When writing this, I may have a character of another species give a character description. For instance, a tadaribrae may think ‘she’s a primate of average size.’ While this doesn’t give a precise sense of the po’ongabel’s shape and size, it does give a relative idea for the reader to envision.

To document this for worldbuilding, I look at initial impressions. What biological shape is the character most closely aligned with (be it avian or primate)? And, in what ways does the character’s shape differ from the standard?

For this example, I’ll describe Attentive, a po’ongabel character who has a non-standard shape.

With a height that’s 50% greater than average but a weight that is only 9% greater, Attentive is considered lean–especially in a military society full of fit soldiers.

More striking, though, is the appearance of one average length arm and one arm half that length. In a society that uses a signing language as its official means of communication, complex motions are requisite. However, an official abridged version has been designed for veterans who have lost the ability to employ a full range of motion. Attentive’s uneven arms force him to communicate with the veterans’ adapted sign language.

As you can see, I’ve created writing notes on my character appearance worksheet. These remind me of ways I can approach my character description from a narrative and worldbuilding perspective. …rather than using exposition alone.

How Clothes and Accessories can Augment Character Description

In real life I’m unable to see finer details, so I often forget to describe them as part of a character’s appearance. I have to include clothing, accessories, and makeup on my character sheets because they’re an–almost literal–blind spot for me.

It also helps for me to think of these details in a broader context. Yes, a person may wear bright colors or jewelry that clangs. They may have makeup that brings out their natural beauty. All of these details are worthy of note, but for me, the more significant thing is what these personal choices say about the character.

Perhaps they wear bright clothes because they want to be a bright spot in the lives of others. Maybe they wear noisy jewelry because they want attention. Understated makeup may convey self-confidence. I like to use these details to create character depth. Looking at how the character’s clothing, accessories, or makeup is perceived. Maybe outdated clothes cause the character to seem old. Or a character with simple adornments is perceived as low-maintenance.

And just as important: Is the interpretation of the character’s appearance accurate?

Looking at Sage, a pentapardi female, you’ll note that I’ve described her as having utilitarian and loose-fitting clothing with ample pockets. These clothes are in muted blues and greys that don’t draw attention.

This gives her a no-nonsense appearance, which matches her pragmatic approach to life.

As for accessories, Sage wears nano-cuffs in a matte metallic coloring. And the control panel for her nantech clothes has a watch design that shows the local time no matter what planet she’s on. Additionally, her nanotech clothes are designed to protect against common off-world issues such as temperature variation and UV exposure.

This is another nod to Sage’s no-nonsense appearance; wearable nanobot controllers can be as attention-getting as a faceplate or as inconspicuous as a wrist cuff. Similarly, nanotech clothes are aligned with the wearers personal comfort levels.

Not only does the plainness of Sage’s clothing and accessories suggest a practical approach to life, but it underscores how important it is that she has functional clothing when she’s working as an off-world technician.

Demeanor as a Dimension of Character Design and Description

It’s easy to forget demeanor when looking at character description.

How a character stands or walks. What their body language says about them. These are all important queues that many of us subconsciously notice in everyday life. So what can I do to infuse these ideas into a narrative?

Think: body language, body movement, and manner of speech. What do you think about someone who utilizes a large vocabulary? What about an accent? How do you interpret fast, jerky motions or crossed arms?

And here’s a tricky one: Can someone’s habit of giving a “polite” amount of personal space be considered a snub by people of different cultures?

This is where I start looking at whether a character’s body language, body movement, or speech is culturally learned? How is their demeanor interpreted within their culture vs. outside of it?

Looking back at the example of Sage: her body language is neutral. It always suggests an appropriate amount of interest in any given task or person. Her movements are deft and purposeful. And her speech is quick, often clipped; her accent suggests a region with few species besides pentapardi.

This last piece of description is very important. That Sage is from a region that is mostly pentapardi means that her culture is going to have a strong effect on her demeanor. Since many pentapardi cultures are known for being restrained and given to long periods of solitude, it makes sense that her demeanor is reserved. However, more demonstrative cultures are likely to perceive her demeanor as standoffish.

In this way, character description and character design can be much more than physical appearance.

Until next time, stay inspired.