Context – Theme Research

Western – Western is a genre that is used in various forms of media, resolving around themes from the American frontier.

Western Mindmap

Western scenarios are generally very isolated areas, often miles away from one another. The main form of transportation between these locations would have to be by horse. Most of the locations in a Western themed environment are in small towns, boasting many bars and saloons. They also acquire jails and gallows for public executions. Sometimes, the story in a Western leads to conflicts within a Native American Tribe. Most Western towns boomed because of the discovery of gold, so a gold mine would be another location. Since the first thing that many think of when they assume Western is cowboys, the areas they work in, such as ranches and barns, are also popular locations. As for my personal interest, the railroad is also quite a popular scene from the Western Genre.

Western Town Moodboard

Most settings in Western genre have a town of sorts, so I decided to do a moodboard centered around how towns look. I am mostly looking towards how they are built, what effect they give off, and the style of the buildings from that era. Most of the buildings were made from wood with slates, showing off how in a Western media, the harsh conditions of the time and era.

Western Buildings Interior Moodboard

As well as outdoor environments, I decided to have a look at the interior of Western buildings. They appear to be very dark, but they also appear to be warm and cozy places. I am personally not too keen on designing interiors, but I do think some of the interior screenshots I found look effective for what they intended.

Western Railroad Moodboard

As I am interested in railways, I decided to do some research on the railroad, particularly stations and the environment the railways ran in. They are noticeably very different to that of British railways, for they had a vase wilderness around them, differently designed stations and bridges. Most of the railroads were built as the main form of transport for this era, and are noticeably longer journeys than that of those of a British railway. I do quite like the appearance of a Western railroad, in particular, how a station is a simple small building with nothing else around, compared to that of a British station which is mostly stylish, and built to accustom passengers. The railroad stations give off more of a rough outlook, especially on how difficult life was back in the day.

Western Objects

I had a look at a few assets that could be associated in Western media, mostly some of the noticeable ones, such as water towers, wanted posers, tumbleweeds, cacti, and totem poles. I like how even though these assets are noticeable, they could be designed differently, such as the layout of wanted posters, or how a cactus could appear. I am not sure how I could use these assets to incorporate into my project, as I am not too keen on designing individual assets.

Western Sceneries Moodboard

Outside of Western towns, I decided to have a look at screenshots of areas surrounding a Western setting. These would include mountain ranges, deserts, and sometimes, these could go on for miles without civilization nearby, often with the only form of transport being the use of a horse. I do like how the colours of a Western make it remarkable, with a clear sky and a simple setting.