1-2-3
Pixel Art Landscape
Pixel art is a unique art form that combines simplicity with creativity, heavily inspired by the retro aesthetics of classic video games. Landscapes in pixel art capture the charm of those old-school games, where every tiny square helped build immersive worlds—from rolling hills to bustling towns and fantasy realms. This project challenges you to create detailed scenes using limited pixels, focusing on colour, composition, and nostalgic style.
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Your Mission is to design and create a pixel art landscape that tells a story through its environment. Using limited resolution and a defined colour palette, you will build a cohesive scene that feels alive and visually engaging.
​Project Goals
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Develop skills in pixel art techniques, including colour use and dithering
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Practice creating depth, texture, and atmosphere within limited space
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Explore composition and storytelling through environment design
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Understand how to simplify complex scenes while keeping them readable
Level 1
Pick and Do 2 Exercises:
Each exercise should ONLY take 1-3 classes to complete.
LVL1 CHECKPOINT
AFTER completing BOTH exercises,
but BEFORE moving on:​
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1) Name your files correctly:
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Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level-WhichOneYouPicked​
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ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-CardDesign-1-AMotif
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Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.
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Use hyphens in image or file names --- no spaces.
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Even though Windows and Mac computers allow spaces, the web is built on systems that do not handle spaces well. When a file name has a space, web browsers often change it to %20, which can cause broken links or make files not load correctly.
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Using hyphens (-) instead of spaces helps your files work properly online.
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2) Do the level 1 reflection
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Move it to your Media Design folder in your OneDrive.
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RENAME IT
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Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level
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ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-1
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Answer the questions. You can focus on one exercise or answer for both.
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3) Hand in all 3 files
Level 2
​BEFORE YOU BEGIN
​1) GET the level 2 DESIGN BOOKLET
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Move it to your Media Design folder in your OneDrive.
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RENAME IT
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Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level
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ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-2
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Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.
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2) Choose your level 2 assignment (below)​
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3) Start the booklet before starting your assignment
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Answer the questions in the following sections:
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The Assignment-ID and timeline questions.
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KNOW WHAT YOU’RE PRACTICING​
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FEEDBACK
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PLAN YOUR APPROACH
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4) do your assignment​
Pick and Do 1 Assignment:
LVL2 CHECKPOINT
AFTER completing your assignment,
but BEFORE moving on:​
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1) Name your file(s) correctly:
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Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level-WhichOneYouPicked​
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ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-2-CTextureStudy
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Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.
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2) FINISH the level 2 reflection​
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aka the last section in the Design Booklet.
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3) Hand in BOTH (2) files
Level 3
The Project
It's time to shine! For this project, you will design and create a pixel art landscape that tells a story through its environment.
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Your goal is to create this landscape using limited resolution and a defined colour palette to build a cohesive scene that feels alive and visually engaging.
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​​​​​​BEFORE YOU BEGIN
​1) GET the level 3 DESIGN BOOKLET
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Move it to your Media Design folder in your OneDrive.
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RENAME IT
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Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level
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ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-3​
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​2) fill out the booklet as you do the project.
Your Pixel Landscape must include:
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An actual landscape created from pixels.​​
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Focus on:
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Creating an effect colour palette
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Attention to scale and detail
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Limiting extra pixels on curvature and complex shapes
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Effectively using dithering and colours to create textures and shadows
Ready to Make?
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Your file should be 240 x 240 pixels, at 300 pixels/inch. ​
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You may create your kit using…
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Using photoshop or similar pixel editor
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To Help You Get Started:
1) What landscape am i hoping to create?
Before diving into creating, brainstorm your defining features. Use the following questions to help you brainstorm:
1. Is my landscape based on a real location or imagined?
2. Do I have a reference image or sketch to help me translate my ideas into the final project?
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3. What colour palette will I be using?
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4. Where is light and shadows in my landscape and how do I capture those effectively?
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This project brings together everything you practiced in Levels 1 and 2:
you've got this!​​​
LVL3 CHECKPOINT
AFTER completing your project:​
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1) Name your file(s) correctly:
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Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level
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ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-CardDesign-3
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Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.
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2) FINISH the level 3 reflection​
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aka the last section in the Design Booklet.
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3) Hand in BOTH (2) files
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4) Return to the Media Design page and repeat the 1-2-3 cycle with a new project!​​
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