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The Kitchen as Narrative Core – Ramen for Two

Environment & Props Modeling · Narrative Set Design

In Ramen for Two, the kitchen is not just a backdrop, it is the emotional core of the story. It’s where memories surface and old relationships are revisited.

My role focused on shaping this environment so it could tell part of the story on its own. Through layout, props and materials, every element was designed to feel lived-in, intentional and emotionally charged, supporting both the characters and the film’s camera language.

Goal

The objective was to create a warm, believable and narratively driven kitchen that could function as a realistic student apartment.

From a technical perspective, the environment needed to be clean and optimized. From a narrative perspective, it had to feel intimate, habitable and shaped by memory, not only decoration.

Process

1. References & Planning

  • Gathered real-life references of small Spanish student apartments.
  • Focused on modest kitchens with personality and visual warmth.
  • Translated everyday realism into a cohesive, stylized cinematic space.

2. Base Modeling & Layout

  • Modeled the main kitchen structure and defined proportions based on concept art.
  • Established the core layout early, iterating to support camera framing.
  • Prepared a clean, scalable scene structure for set dressing.

3. Props Modeling

  • Modeled the main table and all related props: bowls, pots, chopsticks, chairs, plants and secondary elements.
  • Prioritized clear silhouettes and animation-friendly topology.

4. Texturing & Lookdev

  • Textured assets using a semi-realistic, hand-painted approach in Substance Painter.
  • Focused on subtle color and roughness variation to achieve a warm, handcrafted feel.
  • Collaborated on overall lookdev, adjusting shaders and normals to align with the short’s watercolor-inspired aesthetic.

5. Publishing & Quality Control

  • Supervised the publication of 120+ assets.
  • Ensured consistent naming, clean geometry, correct UVs, scale and hierarchy.
  • Enabled smooth handoff between Texturing, Rigging and Lighting.

Challenges & Fixes

  • Balancing realism and stylization
    Making the kitchen feel alive without overcrowding the scene.
    Fix: Prioritized simple shapes, soft materials and a restrained color palette, keeping focus on characters while conveying a lived-in space.

  • Camera readability & scale
    Ensuring the environment worked across multiple camera angles.
    Fix: Iterated on proportions and spacing, constantly checking framing and human scale until the space felt natural.

Pipeline Impact

  • Established a solid workflow standard for the film’s main set.
  • Contributed to smooth collaboration across departments through clean organization and asset consistency.
  • Allowed lighting and compositing to focus on storytelling rather than technical fixes.
  • The kitchen became a stable narrative anchor for the entire short.

    Software

    Autodesk Maya · Substance Painter · Adobe Photoshop

    Credits

    • Environment Modeling Lead: Laura Blázquez
    • Environment Modeling Artists: Irene Alicarte, Marta Aribau, Sergi Barrasa, Martín Cid, María González, Ainhoa Jiménez, Isaac Lasheras, Leni Losantos, Dídac Manzanares, Alex Merino, Nora Montesinos, Tania Piniés, Clara Soler, Judith Tarrés, Alba Tinoco.
    • Art Lead: Judith Tarrés
    • Texture Leads: Clara Soler, Sergi Barrasa, Ainhoa Jiménez
    • Additional Texturing & LookDev: Ramen for Two Team
    • Supervision: Josep Maria Sáez
    • Production: HotDogs Studio & Brooderlab

    Looking for an environment artist who understands that spaces tell stories?

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