Designing Alien Heads: A Guide to Creative Sci-Fi Character Portraits

Aliens are one of the most fun things to design because there are almost no rules. Extra eyes, stretched skulls, strange proportions - anything goes. But the alien designs that really stick with us don’t work because they’re random. They work because they’re built on clear, believable forms. Under every strange silhouette is a simple structure holding it together.

This is what this exercise is all about - learning to think like a creature designer! By playing with organic shapes and contour lines, you’ll train yourself to build aliens that feel intentional, and alive - even when they’re completely imaginary.

Start by drawing six organic shapes. Once the shapes are down, draw contour lines on top of each one to describe their volume. Think of these lines as wrapping around the form, helping you visualize it in three dimensions.  The goal here isn’t accuracy, but understanding. Contour lines train your brain to see flat shapes as solid objects. 

Using the six shapes you created, combine them in pairs to form three new shapes. You can reuse the same shape more than once if you like.

As you merge the shapes, think about how they intersect and overlap. Which form feels dominant? Which one supports it? This step helps you practice building complexity from simple parts -  a core skill in creature and character design.

Find an alien head design you like and trace over it, focusing only on the underlying organic forms. Simplify the design into basic shapes, then add contour lines to show how those forms sit in space.

This isn’t about copying style - it’s about understanding structure. By breaking the design down, you’ll start to see how professional artists think in volumes rather than details.

Pick your favourite combined shape from step 2 and design an alien head on top of it. Let the shape guide your design decisions instead of forcing features onto it.

If you’re working with a friend, swap your step 2 shapes and design an alien head using each other’s forms. This is a great way to push yourself out of familiar habits and discover new design ideas.

Exercises like this build the foundation for stronger character and creature design. When you understand organic shapes and how to wrap contour lines around them, your designs start to feel more three-dimensional, intentional, and believable.

Don’t worry about making it perfect. Focus on exploration, clarity, and learning from each attempt. Progress comes from repetition and curiosity.