SVS Exterior Environment Design is an online class from the School of Visual Storytelling, taught by illustrator and cartoonist Jake Parker with Will Terry. It teaches you to design outdoor environments that are appealing, believable and true to a character's story, covering shape, silhouette, proportion, point of view, tone and personal style. The class has 20 lessons with about two hours of video, a workbook, four exercises and a final environment assignment, and is included in the SVS Learn membership.

At its centre is a step-by-step lighthouse demonstration that goes from silhouette to details, structure, line and tone, so you can see a full environment take shape.

What You Will Learn

The principles of environment design
Designing with shapes and focusing on silhouette
Dividing a composition in thirds and fifths
Choosing a point of view
Tone, style and different design approaches
Learning from masters through subjective and objective studies
A full environment process from silhouette to finished tone

Who Is SVS Exterior Environment Design For?

The class suits illustrators who are comfortable with characters but avoid backgrounds, and anyone who wants their outdoor scenes to feel designed rather than improvised. It is relevant for picture books, comics, games and animation.

Some perspective knowledge helps; the Level 1 and Level 3 perspective classes are good preparation.

How the Class Works

The early lessons alternate principles with short exercises, from designing with shapes to studying master artists in two different ways. The lighthouse demonstration then shows every stage of a finished environment, and the final assignment asks you to design an exterior of your own using the workbook as a guide.

Course Structure

Introduction and workbook
Principles of environment design: shape (Exercise 1), silhouette (Exercise 2), thirds and fifths, point of view
Style and design approaches: tone, style, design approach, subjective and objective master studies (Exercises 3 and 4)
Lighthouse demo: silhouette, details, structure, lines and tone
Assignments: an exterior environment, and conclusion

What You Will Make

You will finish with a designed exterior environment, developed from silhouette studies to a finished tonal drawing, plus a set of master studies. The environment can become part of the 12-piece portfolio at the end of the SVS curriculum, especially if it is designed for one of your own characters.

Price and Access

The class is included in the SVS Learn membership. SVS lists its Studio membership at $29.95 a month, and class pages show a $300 annual option. A 14-day free trial is available with a card and becomes a paid subscription unless you cancel. Members get live events and a monthly art challenge.

About the Instructor

Jake Parker has worked for about 25 years on animated films, comics and picture books, including projects at Reel FX and Blue Sky Studios such as Horton Hears a Who, Rio and Epic, and created the Inktober drawing challenge. Will Terry, who joins him in the class, is a freelance illustrator of about 30 children's books.

How It Fits the SVS Curriculum

Exterior Environment Design belongs to Level 3 of SVS Essentials. It brings together the perspective classes and Designing Rocks and Plants, and is paired with Interior Environment Design. In Level 4, Building Backgrounds for Characters combines these environments with the characters from Level 2.

Things to Consider

Time: two hours of video plus exercises and a full environment.
Master studies: pick environment artists you admire for the study exercises.
Medium: traditional or digital.
Next steps: Interior Environment Design.
Feedback: share your environment in the SVS community.

Start the Course

Interested in learning with SVS Learn?

Start Exterior Environment Design

For the full curriculum and membership options, visit the official SVS Learn website.

Looking for more ways to learn? Browse all courses and learning resources on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 26, 2026

Exterior Environment Design by SVS Learn