Visual Development Pipeline v1.0

Status: Accepted for Sprint 1.6

Applies to: heroes, enemies, bosses, backgrounds, props, UI, and FX.

Purpose

Visual development is the controlled exploration phase before production art. It prevents random styling, copied designs, unreadable silhouettes, inconsistent materials, and late-stage rework.

Every asset follows the same sequence:

Reference

  -> Silhouette

  -> Shapes

  -> Values

  -> Colors

  -> Materials

  -> Pose

  -> Animation

  -> Production

  -> QA

  -> Approval

Rules

• Analyze references; never copy existing designs.
• Separate idea quality from rendering polish.
• Score readability before detail.
• Use approved palette, material, anatomy, animation, and pixel-art standards.
• Record every review in assets/definitions/review/concept_review.yaml.

Required Outputs

| Stage | Output | Gate |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Reference | Reference notes and risk notes | No copied design language |

| Silhouette | Minimum 10 described variants per hero | Best variant score >= 85 |

| Shape | Dominant and secondary shape language | Gameplay role is readable |

| Value | Light, midtone, shadow plan | Readable at 50% scale |

| Color | Palette workflow and contrast checks | Uses approved palette library |

| Material | Material test notes | Material recognized at 50% scale |

| Pose | Pose criteria | Intent readable in one frame |

| Review | Pass, Needs Work, or Rejected | All blockers closed |