Explore Skullpanda designers: from art genius to fashion toy design master
In the world of trendy toys, the designer of Skullpanda Skeleton Bear Meow (referred to as Bear Meow) is undoubtedly a shining star. Her creations are not only works of art, but also symbols of trendy culture. Today, we will take a closer look at this talented designer and see how she grew from an ordinary art lover to a top designer in the fashion industry.
The relationship between childhood and art
Xiong Miao has been passionate about art since she was a child. She is the only one in her family who is engaged in the art industry. She once said that painting is like a part of life for her, a hobby engraved in her DNA. This love for art laid a solid foundation for her future creations.
New to the industry: from CG concept design to top original animator
In 2009, Xiong Miao, who had just graduated from university, began to engage in CG scene concept design. She once participated in the original painting design of "Sky" and was regarded as a god by game enthusiasts because of her outstanding works. This experience not only allowed her to accumulate rich design experience, but also made her stand out in the industry.
Established "Hokusai" studio
From 2014 to 2015, Xiong Miao founded his own art studio "Hokusai" in Shanghai. The name comes from her love for the Japanese ukiyo-e master Katsushika Hokusai and her special emotion for the word "sai". This decision marked her transition from solo creator to professional studio.
Cooperation with Bubble Mart: The birth of SKULLPANDA
Before cooperating with Bubble Mart, Xiong Miao had already started the creation of SKULLPANDA (SP for short) and gained support from some players. In 2017, at the BTS Fashion Show, her works caught the attention of Bubble Mart. Subsequently, Bubble Mart invited her to design SP under the carrier of blind box. This cooperation quickly promoted the popularity of SP.
The establishment of Beizhaibuzhai brand
In 2019, Xiong Miao founded "Bei Zhai Bu Zhai", a brand of trendy toys and creative products in Chengdu. The birth of this brand not only demonstrated her innovative ability in the field of trendy toys, but also found more display platforms for her works.
SP’s success and design philosophy
In 2020, the first release of the collaboration between SP and Bubble Mart, the Jungle Castle series, was a great success as soon as it was launched. The design concept of Xiong Miao is to create a character that can travel freely in the universe, play different roles through time and space, and experience various lives. Her designs are not only innovative in appearance, but also contain profound connotations and stories.
Diverse exploration of art (continued)
Xiong Miao’s artistic experiments are not limited to trendy designs. Her CG works have been selected into the world's top fantasy art yearbooks, and she has led the team to participate in the concept design of many domestic and foreign movies and games. These experiences imbue her work with unique visual charm and depth.
From factory to design table: a complete mastery of processes and materials
Xiong Miao is not only an excellent designer, but also has an in-depth understanding of craftsmanship and materials. She often goes to the factory to observe the work of front-line workers and learn the latest production technology. This love and focus on craftsmanship make her works not only unique in design, but also reach a very high level in production technology.
SP design inspiration and characteristics
Xiong Miao has a unique understanding of SP design. She hopes that this character can travel freely in the universe, play different roles, and experience various lives. Based on this concept, she designed the appearance of an astronaut helmet for SP and incorporated the concepts of "split" and "balance" into the design. SP's ball-shaped braids and helmet together form a triangle, which symbolizes her pursuit of balance.
"I hope that SP's characteristics are obvious and direct," Xiong Miao explained, "such as the large distance between the eyes and eye sockets, slightly opened thick lips, and the intuitive proportion contrast between the limbs and the torso." She emphasized that SP's image While some of her own features are exaggerated, it's not an avatar of her, but a bolder, freer character.
sources of artistic inspiration
Xiong Miao's creative inspiration comes from various forms of art works. She likes photography and has a habit of reading. She once mentioned that the creative inspiration for the SP Courtyard Plum Blossom series came from Zhang Daoqia's "Plum Blossoms". She believes that creators will be nourished by various artistic works during the design process, including literary works, film and television works, etc.
"I appreciate and pay attention to any form of creation," Xiong Miao said. "My favorite artist is Egon Schiele. His works have a strong expressive force."
future outlook
Xiong Miao's creative journey continues, and she continues to explore new art forms and design concepts. Her works are not only trendy toys, but also the crystallization of art and culture. In the future, we look forward to seeing more surprise creations from Xiongmiao.
