NES Helmet Design
2025
Software Used | ZBrush, After Effects
This concept helmet draws inspiration from the retro aesthetic of the original Nintendo Entertainment System, reimagined through the lens of contemporary hard-surface design. Sculpted in ZBrush and refined with After Effects for presentation, the piece fuses nostalgic color palettes and geometric motifs with futuristic functionality. The clean red, black, and gray forms echo the simplicity of 1980s hardware design, while the detailed surface panels and visor bring it into the realm of modern science fiction.
The design explores the balance between playfulness and utility, inviting viewers to imagine it as part of a game-inspired cinematic universe. While it carries the familiar charm of a console era, the helmet is constructed with careful attention to real-world logic in its structure, airflow, and protective elements.
This work is also featured in my book as part of a hard-surface design Boolean case study, showing readers how efficiently take inspiration from industrial and entertainment design history to develop new concepts in ZBrush. The breakdown includes ideation, block-out, paneling workflows, and final polish, giving artists a roadmap for transforming nostalgic references into production-ready assets.