Introduction to Prop Design by SVS Learn

SVS Introduction to Prop Design is an online class from the School of Visual Storytelling, taught by illustrator and cartoonist Jake Parker. It walks through designing props from start to finish: asking the right questions, gathering reference, choosing shapes and proportions, drawing, adding structure and rendering. The class has 26 lessons with about three hours of video and five downloads, and you finish with a sheet of at least five props that feel as if they belong to the same story. It is included in the SVS Learn membership.

Props are often treated as an afterthought, yet they tell the viewer a great deal about a character and a world. Jake demonstrates each step by designing objects for his own character, Skull Chaser, so you see the decisions a professional makes along the way.

What You Will Learn

• The basic categories of props and why prop design matters
• Questions to answer about a prop before you draw it
• How to gather and organise reference in a folder
• Fundamental shapes, proportion, and harmony and contrast
• A drawing process from rough sketch to clean design
• Adding structure so a prop looks solid and believable
• Rendering a prop, and designing an ensemble that works together

Who Is SVS Introduction to Prop Design For?

The class is beginner-friendly and suits illustrators, comic artists and aspiring concept artists who want their worlds to feel richer. It is also a good bridge between the drawing fundamentals of Level 1 and the character and environment classes that follow.

If you want to design whole environments rather than single objects, take this first and then Exterior Environment Design and Interior Environment Design.

Course Structure

The class is organised in eight parts:

1. Course introduction: prop categories and why prop design matters
2. Concept: asking the right questions and gathering reference (Assignment 1: a reference folder)
3. Design: fundamental shapes, proportions, harmony and contrast
4. Drawing: process and demonstration (Assignment 2)
5. Structure: demonstration (Assignment 3)
6. Rendering: process and demonstration (Assignment 4)
7. The prop ensemble: silhouettes, detail sketch, structure and rendering demonstrations
8. Conclusion and final assignment: a prop sheet of at least five props

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. Membership includes the class library, weekly live events and a monthly art challenge with instructor feedback.

About the Instructor

Jake Parker has worked for about 25 years on animated films, comics and picture books, including several years at Reel FX and Blue Sky Studios on Horton Hears a Who, Rio and Epic. He created the Inktober drawing challenge and now works as an illustrator and cartoonist on children's books and comics.

How It Fits the SVS Curriculum

Introduction to Prop Design closes Level 1 of SVS Essentials, after the drawing, perspective, light and colour classes. It is the first class where you design something rather than study a principle, so it is a useful test of everything learned so far. The prop sheet you make here can become one of the 12 pieces in the foundations portfolio at the end of the curriculum.

Things to Consider

• Time: three hours of video, but the five-prop final assignment takes longer.
• Medium: any drawing medium works; the demonstrations show the full process.
• Story first: decide who owns the prop and where it lives before you draw.
• Next steps: Effective Vehicle Design and the environment classes in Level 3.
• Feedback: share your prop sheet in the SVS community.

Start the Course

Interested in learning with SVS Learn?

Start Introduction to Prop Design

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

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Last verified: October 26, 2026