The Story Behind The Delver Kid Image
Posted by Tamar Hak, Illustrator on Nov 26, 2008
Delver’s person image, like most other person images, was intended to function as a general profile picture for users who didn’t upload a particular image of their own.
The goal was to make this image appeal to a crowd of users that was as wide and as diverse as possible, catering for both genders, for all ages and as many cultures and nationalities as possible. This had to be accomplished without being offensive towards anyone, however keeping a strong emphasis on making it likable, catchy, noticeable and memorable on the cyber world.
I decided that I would use a pencil instead of the more obvious and immediate options available with graphic software. Being a manual technique, the pencil generates a kind of warmth which allows one to feel and see the person behind the work thereby making it more approachable and unique.
The first thing I did was look up the word Delve (one who is engaged in delving) in the dictionary and found the following:
delve (delv)
intransitive verb delved, delving delv’-ing
1. To dig with a spade
2. To investigate for information; search (into books, the past, etc.)
With this in mind, I started drawing up drafts of animal figures that could be associated with the word Delver and based on the above definition, I came up with drafts of many kinds of rodents like:
Apparently however, rodents are not the most popular creatures with all people, so I had to change my strategy…
I decided to go back to the drawing board (no pun intended) and search amongst my own kind.
First I tried to focus on facial expressions:
I then tried to think of an image that would be more of a story behind it. I came up with a diver figure which could also be easily associated with the meaning of the word “Delver”. I tried to make his character edgy and funny. I chose to draw an old diving suit that had a more interesting look to it:
The thing was, it had too much of a character for a person image and definitely too much edge…I therefore decided to try and soften it, making it more naïve and friendly. I also decided to try something else that incorporated the concepts of the sea depths and the act of delving, something more light hearted than a diver that was attacked by a squid… more in the direction of a starfish…
Still, the diver had too much of a story to it and the starfish felt too detached …
From here, I felt that I had to go back to basics and draw a more simplified figure with plain likable looks, something like the last version of the diver, but without the suit.
My first trials looked like this:
I liked the third image, as it was simple and likable but still was quite unique character wise. I started playing with it, trying all kinds of different looks:
It felt right at last! now I just had to choose the best one… difficult choice… So I asked the Delver people to choose for themselves, and well, the rest is history…
Check out Tamar’s profile in Delver here.
Although I already am familiar with the image, and even have a shirt with it, I was fascinated by the whole story and process of coming up with this image.
amazing work!!
very ceartive and smart
Interesting story, I enjoyed reading how you played with the different ideas/pictures, and like the final result.
really cool to follow your artistic process. the final result is really strong. You are REALLY talented… but I’m sure you’ve heard that before… (-:
Thanks everybody!
Amazing Work!!!