# Character Design Director

> Automatically create and score three distinct character IP directions (A 气场觉醒 / B 平行宇宙 / C 潮玩先锋) from Identity Locks and context, mapping PG person forms and MS render styles; no conservative options; no image calls.

- Skill: `yang0/character-design-director` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 31 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add yang0/character-design-director`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/yang0/character-design-director/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: yang0 (https://skillmd.com/u/yang0)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/yang0/character-design-director

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# Character Design Director

Own professional character design decisions while remaining a pure planning node. Do not call image generation, review pixels or deliver files.

## Input Contract

Require an intake-ready character brief, `identity_lock`, and `inferred_preferences` from `character-intake`. When materials are readable, do not ask the user to choose a style or head-to-body ratio: decide three distinct role concepts automatically. 
**Unbound AI Artistry Principle**: In initial creation, design freely from pure creative understanding and artistic imagination. The PG person form library and MS rendering style library are auxiliary preset catalogues to assist non-professional users with post-delivery customization/overrides, and must never act as shackles or rigid templates during initial design.

## Required References

Read [the character design playbook](references/character-design-playbook.yaml). Read [the PG person form library](references/person-form-library.yaml) and [the MS style library](../../references/style-library.yaml) only for an explicit user code override or optional auxiliary inspiration.

## Planning Contract

1. **Produce Three Bold Orthogonal Creative Directions (Zero Few-Shots & No Templates)**:
   - `A 气场觉醒 / signature-essence`: Deeply elevate the person's natural aura, facial character, and authentic domain into their highest-level iconic character design with a bespoke wardrobe and dedicated fine art direction. Never duplicate plain photo clothes.
   - `B 平行宇宙 / parallel-universe`: Based on character essence and narrative imagination, project the person into a fully realized parallel world that is completely orthogonal in genre, atmosphere, and functional wardrobe from Direction A.
   - `C 潮玩先锋 / avant-garde-art`: Maximum imaginative leap! Break conventional human proportions and garment norms, deconstructing the character through non-representational silhouettes, avant-garde styling, and breakthrough physical/artistic media.
   - Every direction must turn the same 3–5 identity anchors into a complete character system: one thesis, world role, bespoke costume system, silhouette motif, palette logic, material language and per-anchor transformation rationale. B/C must each differ from A in at least three of silhouette, costume, palette, world role and material.
   - **Anti-Cliché & Orthogonal Divergence**: Ensure all three directions feature completely distinct garment silhouettes (e.g. differing coat/jacket/knitwear/robe structures), distinct signature accessory dimensions (headwear, eyewear, neckwear, brooch, tailoring cuts), and distinct artistic rendering media. Self-audit before outputting.
   - Under the default workflow, these records go directly to rendering; do not stop to make the user select from text summaries.
2. **Direction Specification**:
   - Each direction defines: `concept_mode`, `aspect_ratio`, `identity_anchors`, `photo_attributes_released`, `character_thesis`, `world_role`, `costume_system`, `silhouette_motif`, `palette_logic`, `material_language`, `transformation_rationale`, plus the existing anatomy, PG/MS and integration fields.
3. **Score & Quality Gate**:
   - Score: `character_relevance`, `silhouette_recognition`, `facial_memory_hook`, `outfit_personality_alignment`, `originality`, `medium_fit` (0–10 each).
   - Use `prepare_director_plan`; redesign internally below 42/60 or when directions duplicate silhouettes, signature features or memory hooks.
4. **Handoff**:
   - Return all three validated records to `character-candidate-renderer`. Output `next_stage: rendering`.

## High-art photo policy & Pure Stylized IP

If the intake includes a photo or material, plan from it as a source of limited identity
anchors rather than a portrait replica. Never carry over photographed casual
clothing, work shirts or plain bedroom backgrounds. Design a completely original,
high-concept wardrobe for every direction. B/C must translate the anchors
into bold silhouette, costume, symbol and material choices.

- **High Artistry & Zero Photorealism**: Mandate strong stylized character IP design (3D vinyl collectible, stylized sculpture, anime/cel art, storybook illustration). Strictly forbid realistic human skin pores, photorealism, and live-action DSLR photo look across all candidates (including A).
- **Empty Hands & Zero Handheld Props**: All candidates must feature 100% empty hands resting naturally with 5 distinct fingers visible. Strictly forbid holding any props, tools, weapons, bags, phones, tablets, or books. Signature features must be wearable body accessories only. Do not copy user-provided reference-character combinations; extract only artistic principles.

## Revision Planning

When called by `character-revision-director`, use `build_holistic_revision_prompt`. Treat feedback as a whole-character constraint; reassess head-to-body proportion, silhouette, facial features, hair, outfit, palette, and medium together. Preserve only explicit keep-locks.

## Output Contract

Return design records, scores, anatomy plans, and render-ready prompts. Output `next_stage: rendering`.