Vehicle and Props Design
23/04/2026 - 30/07/2026 (Week 1 - Week 15)
WANG JINYI / 0374697
GCD61804 / Vehicle and Props Design / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Vehicle and Props Design
TABLE OF CONTENT
INSTRUCTION
PROGRESS
Week 2
For this project, I decided to use the world of Raya and the Last Dragon as the main reference for my vehicle design. I was particularly inspired by the film’s environmental storytelling, floating market culture, and the way boats are integrated into everyday life within Talon.
One of my main inspirations was Captain Boun’s boat design and how the film uses vehicles not only as transportation, but also as extensions of the characters and their lifestyles. Because of this, I decided to focus on designing a boat-based vehicle for my project.
At the early ideation stage, I explored different directions for the vehicle’s form and purpose. I was interested in creating a design that could naturally fit into Kumandra’s trading culture while still having its own unique identity. Eventually, I developed the idea of a pawnshop boat operated by a traveling merchant.
For the visual direction, I started researching:
- traditional Southeast Asian boats
- floating markets
- shell and pearl forms
- merchant-related props and objects
I was especially drawn to the symbolism of pearl shells, as they relate to trade, value, protection, and Southeast Asian pearl harvesting culture. These ideas became the foundation of my design direction moving forward.
During this stage, I mainly focused on collecting references, exploring silhouettes, and building the overall concept and world integration of the vehicle before moving into more detailed design development.
Week 3
This week, I further developed the overall direction of my vehicle and props design.
The current concept is a pawnshop boat owned by a Talon merchant named Nalan. The design is inspired by pearl shells while still maintaining the traditional Southeast Asian boat aesthetics seen in the film. At this stage, I have already established the overall exterior and interior structure of the vessel, including the trading space, storage layout, and general silhouette.
During consultation, I was advised to further refine the functional aspects of the vehicle. Some of the questions I need to explore further include:
- How does the boat move and operate?
- What is the main source of propulsion?
- Is the shell-inspired structure stable enough for water travel?
- Would the shape affect movement under strong wind conditions or water currents?
These are important considerations that will help make the design feel more believable and functional within the world setting.
I also started developing the character who owns the boat. Nalan is designed as a young merchant woman from Talon. Her clothing design will reference the costume style and cultural influences seen in the film.
For the prop and weapon design, I created a shell-inspired anchor weapon. Normally, it functions as a regular boat anchor for docking, but during dangerous situations, Nalan can use it as a weapon in combat. During feedback, Sir Kannan suggested that since jade plays an important role in Nalan’s trading background, I could further integrate jade-related elements into the weapon design to strengthen its connection to the character and overall concept.
Week 3-4
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