The Ultimate Guide to Designing a Fictional Culture

Culture is an essential defining factor of a world. It spans a broad variety of elements that are interwoven together and dependent on each other. Despite this interdependency, these factors can usually be developed independently of the others, and woven together after the fact. This process can make a world more unique, as it forces the worldbuilder to think more creatively as they mold these elements together. Below, I have listed 10 culture aspects, with a running example of how I might develop them in a project.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to figure out all of the elements of culture to create an interesting and believable world. In fact, some of these elements are ones I haven’t developed much, if at all, in my main project. I encourage you to start with the ones that interest you the most, and perhaps you will naturally fill in more blanks as your world grows.

1. Geography

I typically like to begin with a sense of my world’s geography. Where do people live in relation to the world around them? How has their culture been affected by the other cultures around them? Are they at the center of trade, or are they in a secluded position? What natural environments surround them, and how does that affect the way the live?

Example: Let’s say our kingdom could be an island nation located between two continents. Then, they would probably be a gatekeeper of trade between the two halves of the world. Being surrounded by water could makes boats either very common or very valuable, depending on the forestation of the island.

2. Power & Diplomacy

This is one of my favorites. Who holds, or appears to hold, the power in your world? Okay, now who really holds all the power? Who in your world is powerless, and are they governed justly or oppressed? Did the powerful gain their power by wealth, or perhaps by magic? What lies do the people believe?

How do kingdoms interact? Is your world constantly at war? Or is it in a fragile truce that is maintained by the thinnest of threads? Are kingdoms diplomatic with each other, or do they prefer brute-force solutions? Does your main character want to solidify peace, or do they want to use war as a distraction while leading the people to freedom?

Example: Let’s say that the powers on our island nation are interested in keeping the peace between the two continents. Diplomacy is a highly valued skill. They want to avoid being destroyed in the crossfire of a large-scale war.

3. History & Lore

What past shaped your world? Why are things the way they are? History and lore can add reasoning behind any other aspect of the culture. For example, why would kingdoms mistrust each other? Did one betray the other in the past? Or, why are there superstitions surrounding a certain ancient artifact? Do the people believe it was imbued with dark magic in the past?

Example: Perhaps there have been wars in the past that cause our island nation to mistrust one or both of the continents. This explains why they are so dedicated to diplomacy, but the lasting mistrust may cause some to search for more powerful means.

4. Tradition

How has the past affected the people? Do they honor the past, or attempt to suppress it? Tradition links the history of a world to the present, often explaining cultural practices such as superstitions or ceremonies.

Example: These past wars have left scars in the people’s memory, and they celebrate the events that finally brought peace.

5. Economy

What do the people value most? What do they use for currency? This one is fun to get creative with. Perhaps your nation values grapes as currency, and only certain people are allowed to grow them. Or, maybe they cut coins from magic gemstones from the south, and the mines are controlled by certain nobles.

Also, does your kingdom engage in trade? Or do they avoid interaction with the world around them? How does this trade or lack thereof affect society’s lifestyle or quality of life?

Example: Given that there is currently peace and healthy trade between the two continents, our island nation will be a wealthy center of trade.

6. Society

Understanding how your fictional society works is one of the most fundamental aspects of a culture. How do people live? What do they do? How do they organize themselves? Do they enforce this organization with hierarchical structures, or some other way?

Example: Peace is well-established, and people go about their daily business without constant worry of war. With the booming economy, most people have easy access to exotic goods and often live opulent lifestyles. But the poor, who are probably local fishermen if they are employed at all, probably have a hard time competing with the saturated market.

7. Art

What beauties inspire your people, and what pains can only be expressed through their art? How do people paint, write, or make music? Is art appreciated by society or seen as a waste of time? Art can be an insightful window into the values, philosophies, and worldviews of a culture.

Example: Our island nation’s thriving culture has plenty of time for art among the wealthy. The upper-class houses are bedecked with colorful murals and mosaics, and they often enjoy reading, music, and theater. The lower class is probably of mixed opinion on the subject. Some are also enamored with the arts, and are perhaps artists themselves, and others likely see it as unnecessary or foolish.

8. Technology & Magic

What technology level is your world at? Does your world have magic? Are technology and magic used together or separately? Do people mistrust technology or magic? Are they more of a help or a hinderance to civilization’s development?

Example: Their technology could easily be more advanced than the surrounding world, due to the thriving economy. It has taken the place of the ancient magic that used to hold the people’s awe. Perhaps there are some people who remember that magic and want to use it to bring permanent peace, but they don’t fully know how to control it. This could push the current peace onto a precipice.

9. Language & Philosophy

How do people speak? How do they think? Language is the fundamental unit of thought and communication. The words they use and the concepts they imagine are the microscopic building blocks of their philosophy, deeply and subtly integrated into everyday thoughts and actions.

Example: Perhaps there are ancient elements of the language that allude to the presence magic in the world. People still think in these terms, but generally apply the concepts to technological advancements instead.

10. Religion & Worldview

What do the people believe? Why do they believe this? Through what lens do they view the world? Religion and worldview, whether organized or unorganized, always have a major impact on the way people live. People’s perceptions of the world around them teach them how to behave, how to think, what to value, and who to listen to.

Example: Maybe the ancient magic was studied in the past by religious scholars, who would understand how to properly use it to stabilize the peace. But the religion is as ancient and forgotten as the magic, and these people are rare and keep to themselves.

Conclusion

I hope you have had some inspiration from reading through these elements of culture! Often, I find that once I get going on an idea, the hard part is knowing when to stop. As I said at the beginning, it is often best to focus on only a few ideas at first, and let the others come naturally as your world or story grows.

Can you think of any more culture aspects? You can contact us if you believe we missed any, or submit them to our collaborative project to be included on The Map of Worldbuilding.

Credits

The icons used in the featured image for this blog are from flaticon.com:

Book icons created by Freepik – Flaticon

Crown icons created by Freepik – Flaticon

Coin icons created by kliwir art – Flaticon

Music note icons created by Freepik – Flaticon