HOW do y'all design your islands?
- Thread starter toenuki
- Start date
Same. Made a nice mountain for all of my neighbors and shops and was hoping some ideas would pop up along the way but ehhhh. Everyone else's island is so detailed and creative compared to mine. I dunno how they do it. Guess I'm just not that creative. V_V
I’m pretty minimal and I like to keep my town as rural as I can while maintaining 5 stars. My neighborhoods have little cobblestone porches in front of each house lined with flowers. I have a little bbq area and an area to eat. I used brick oven and a large log picnic table. Trying to keep a country/rustic theme is hard when most of the furniture doesn’t fit that theme at all.
BambieTheMayor
Have a lovely day!
I took a screenshot of my map, uploaded it to my computer and enlarged it, then traced it onto a piece of paper. From there, I drew out my future plans for my island, to avoid as much trial and error (however it won't be 100% like the drawing and I will still always have trial and error/creative room).
I haven't started on it yet (Currently moving all buildings along the beach so I can have the space to know exactly what I'm doing), but my current island layout is just not working for me anymore. It needs a change!
I haven't started on it yet (Currently moving all buildings along the beach so I can have the space to know exactly what I'm doing), but my current island layout is just not working for me anymore. It needs a change!
fallenchaoskitten
Legendary Something or Other
Usually I made a sort of list of what I do want.
Then I think of "what would make sense in real life" for how to have the spots flow together.
Before I move any buildings, i will lay out different types of paths (one for real path, one for fencing, one for building, etc.) so I can better judge if I have enough space or not.
Then I start the process of actually doing... about half way through I do a "review" to see if the area is going to actually look nice or if I need to scrap some of the design before I keep going.
Then I think of "what would make sense in real life" for how to have the spots flow together.
Before I move any buildings, i will lay out different types of paths (one for real path, one for fencing, one for building, etc.) so I can better judge if I have enough space or not.
Then I start the process of actually doing... about half way through I do a "review" to see if the area is going to actually look nice or if I need to scrap some of the design before I keep going.
driftwoodisle
A frog in disguise
It's a good idea to think about the big picture of an area, and then focus on the smaller details. So, go from building placement > path placement > micro-environment placement (like little areas that are within the theme of a group. one example is a flea market in the marketplace) > flowers, trees, lamps, etc.
Looking around for island tours and even at just google maps for inspo is also a great idea! It's a nice idea too to think of the general flow of how things could be placed. Like going from more urban towards the front of the island to more rural in the back.
Looking around for island tours and even at just google maps for inspo is also a great idea! It's a nice idea too to think of the general flow of how things could be placed. Like going from more urban towards the front of the island to more rural in the back.
senbeiiscool
Could you pass the senbei?
I usually think of either certain sections of my island or a theme/building.
So for example the museum, I wanted waterfalls around it and for it to look grand. I had a section of my island not being used and the bottom section could be used for a space gallery (since it was similar and educational). I ended up scrapping the space gallery for an outdoor library after looking at some inspiration online.
I wanted to make a bar and a marketplace so I combined both together to make a beachside market place, bar and entertainment area
I don't really have much plans but I try to think of potential ideas I have or want to include and try to combine things that relate if I can
So for example the museum, I wanted waterfalls around it and for it to look grand. I had a section of my island not being used and the bottom section could be used for a space gallery (since it was similar and educational). I ended up scrapping the space gallery for an outdoor library after looking at some inspiration online.
I wanted to make a bar and a marketplace so I combined both together to make a beachside market place, bar and entertainment area
I don't really have much plans but I try to think of potential ideas I have or want to include and try to combine things that relate if I can
If you're stumped on a grand scheme, don't pressure yourself to have a unified vision for your island. You don't need to terraform or decorate every inch!!!
Give yourself time and space to get items and DIYs that give you a nudge of inspiration; be content to create small areas you like. Grow and shape from there. Steal creative ideas you like from videos and screenshots you see. Make it your own! If nothing else, (especially if you're looking to design a neighborhood) moving all your villager houses onto the beach and then having all that open space to work with can be really helpful. It's a slow process, and not cheap, but use that time to experiment!
Don't pressure yourself. Don't be in a hurry to achieve perfection. This game isn't designed for that. I've been stumped about what to do around my house for awhile, and I've been trying all kinds of wacky little things that just haven't jived. Finally terraformed a few minor changes and cleared off a bunch of random decorations and things started to click. That was a few days ago. I still don't know what all I'm going to do with the area, but I've made a satisfactory step in the right direction, and that's progress! It'll come together eventually and I'll love it.
Embrace the little things you like that make you happy to see. Build out from those.
Give yourself time and space to get items and DIYs that give you a nudge of inspiration; be content to create small areas you like. Grow and shape from there. Steal creative ideas you like from videos and screenshots you see. Make it your own! If nothing else, (especially if you're looking to design a neighborhood) moving all your villager houses onto the beach and then having all that open space to work with can be really helpful. It's a slow process, and not cheap, but use that time to experiment!
Don't pressure yourself. Don't be in a hurry to achieve perfection. This game isn't designed for that. I've been stumped about what to do around my house for awhile, and I've been trying all kinds of wacky little things that just haven't jived. Finally terraformed a few minor changes and cleared off a bunch of random decorations and things started to click. That was a few days ago. I still don't know what all I'm going to do with the area, but I've made a satisfactory step in the right direction, and that's progress! It'll come together eventually and I'll love it.
Embrace the little things you like that make you happy to see. Build out from those.
niko@kamogawa
I am hungry for storage space!
I don't want to design my island much. I just want a lot of mountain areas with waterfalls. I prefer to have a rural landscape without any further modifications. Honestly, I prefer decorating my home.
Cheallaigh
Senior Member
the image isn't mine, but same map, except my airport is blue, and my secret beach is one more square to the left(A2). i don't have a pic of the original
- i got rid of the upper river and left a 3rd level pond in the middle instead(B4)
- kept the river on the left from the 3rd tier down to the mouth in the south
- in between the pond and the upper river i have a fenced in hybrid breeding setup
- there is a waterfall going down to the secret beach(it can be accessed via the western beach)
- there's a waterfall sorta like niagara falls from the 3rd tier behind the museum and a series of small cascades going down to the right of it
- D/E2 is my orchard
- E5 is my hardwood forest
- you can see my main garden to the right of the villager houses
- behind RS/nooks/ables there's a walled tea garden
- directly in front of the museum is a where i placed some of the bugs/fish/small fossils in a pond.
Mine is more like a little town, i have custom streets and stuff. I didn't do too much with the shops and kind of stuck them right at the front of the airport since that's what people usually look for lol. I didn't do anything extravagant with the museum either, just cause i wanted to use the space for something more creative like orchards, a bee farm etc. I quite like it so far c:
All you need is an idea, a spark. Don't start with grand island-wide plans, think up a project you'd like to do and focus on getting that done. The first project I put together is the skull you can see on the map, and that gave me ideas on how to build around that, which led to further projects. If you can get that first bit of inspiration, like "I want an outdoor concert", and put that into action, that will open the door.
alpacalypse
Senior Member
i try to save screenshots of islands i like, then think about how i can spin it into my own aesthetic! it's a lot easier to work on parts of your island at a time rather than planning out the entire thing from the get-go.
i think one of the most important things is to take it one step at a time—don't rush yourself! animal crossing isn't a game meant to be "finished," and there's no deadline for your island to meet. sometimes i'll work on a cliff or river or outdoor amenity, then realize i'm all out of creative ideas. rather than forcing yourself to think of something, i've personally found it more helpful to stop for the time being and work on it later with a fresh mind! most of the things i've come up with while forcing myself ended up getting bulldozed, since looking at them always frustrated me c': measure things out, gather the furniture you want, test out different flower arrangements—whatever you choose, always take your time~
i think one of the most important things is to take it one step at a time—don't rush yourself! animal crossing isn't a game meant to be "finished," and there's no deadline for your island to meet. sometimes i'll work on a cliff or river or outdoor amenity, then realize i'm all out of creative ideas. rather than forcing yourself to think of something, i've personally found it more helpful to stop for the time being and work on it later with a fresh mind! most of the things i've come up with while forcing myself ended up getting bulldozed, since looking at them always frustrated me c': measure things out, gather the furniture you want, test out different flower arrangements—whatever you choose, always take your time~
i agree with everything everyone has said above!!
inspo is everywhere and i think simply being on the lookout for it is the key - here on the map thread or the other inspo/post your town threads (you can watch them for updates and get continuous inspo w no work, which i love lmfaooo), or on twitter by following people w the style you like, or the same on youtube, AS WELL as engaging with media (photos, movies, etc) of things that fit the vibe you want to cultivate or that you enjoy. save these things to a file or a bookmark folder or what have you, so you can easily look back at them.
additionally though, i want to say in the planning phase, i kept being bogged down with the ideas of things, getting carried away terraforming or whatever - before i started to require myself to draw and plan everything out by hand, in small sections (just the museum entrance or just a valley). i know this method really depends on how you work best, but i have found it so helpful to visualize and mess with design of things before trying to implement it and doing it by hand is very soothing as well. i've found a sort of comforting meditation in it. not to the level of a bulletjournal, but just a design guide like so:
best of luck, regardless. be sure to share your work with us on the forums for feedback and fellowship!
inspo is everywhere and i think simply being on the lookout for it is the key - here on the map thread or the other inspo/post your town threads (you can watch them for updates and get continuous inspo w no work, which i love lmfaooo), or on twitter by following people w the style you like, or the same on youtube, AS WELL as engaging with media (photos, movies, etc) of things that fit the vibe you want to cultivate or that you enjoy. save these things to a file or a bookmark folder or what have you, so you can easily look back at them.
additionally though, i want to say in the planning phase, i kept being bogged down with the ideas of things, getting carried away terraforming or whatever - before i started to require myself to draw and plan everything out by hand, in small sections (just the museum entrance or just a valley). i know this method really depends on how you work best, but i have found it so helpful to visualize and mess with design of things before trying to implement it and doing it by hand is very soothing as well. i've found a sort of comforting meditation in it. not to the level of a bulletjournal, but just a design guide like so:
best of luck, regardless. be sure to share your work with us on the forums for feedback and fellowship!
