Logo What's After the Movie
Movie Terms Wiki Filmmaking

Concept Art

Illustrative designs that establish the visual style and look of a film’s elements.


Role in Pre-Production

Concept artists create mood boards, character designs, environment paintings and prop sketches to define a film’s aesthetic vision.

Techniques and Tools

Using digital tools like Photoshop and Procreate or traditional mediums, artists iterate on color palettes, lighting schemes and architectural styles.

Collaboration

Concept art informs departments—production design, costume, VFX—ensuring a cohesive visual language across sets, costumes and effects.

Notable Examples

Iconic concept art includes Ralph McQuarrie’s Star Wars paintings and Syd Mead’s futuristic designs for Blade Runner, which shaped the final on-screen worlds.


© 2025 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.