Background as a Character

The Background and Environment follow the same principles as props.  THEY ARE CHARACTERS TOO and so must be designed, thought out and match/ fit in the same world as your characters.

Look for similar shape languages - rounds, thicks to thins, Big med small etc.
Moods - sharps, dangerous, rounds, whimsical, tropical, etc.
Stylization - real, cartoony, strong shapes, angular, etc.

the same rules that make a character strong also apply to environments.  Treat the background as a CHARACTER.
consider STORY, MOOD, AUDIENCE, CONTRAST, BIG-MED-SMALL
If something isn't supporting the story or characters, then it's probably stronger without it.

ENVIRONMENT PROP DESIGN