Designing a Cyberpunk Halloween Costume

This Instructable is me designing a Cyberpunk Halloween costume for the year of 2025 as a high school student during my free time. This costume took a couple months of designing and planning so I will keep it concise with lots of images so it'll be easy to follow along. Enjoy!

-Foam

-Wood

-Hot glue gun

-Glue for the gun

-T square

-Scissors

-Ruler

-Tape measure

-Broom stick

-Wood

-Wood glue

-Foam

First we measured my chest and back to know the measurement of the frame we're going to build. My friend help measure my back cause I couldn't reach it and gave me my back dimensions so I can get started on Both my back and chest plate.

Now that we have our measurement I start to cut out the design I want with foam and covering the foam with colors that matches with a cyberpunk style for the chest plate.

After a help from one of my friends who measured my back I cut out a back frame that best suited my back and added a hole in the middle for a design I later talk about in the Instructable. After having the Back Plate I now added colors to to the back of the costume. I added yellow from the show Cyberpunk Edgerunners that resembles David Martez.

Since I have both the back and chest piece finish, I connect them together with two leather straps that attaches both of them together.

I measured my shoulders which was 8x8.5in and cut out the foam exactly that size. Next I added the colors purple and red because it gave off cyberpunk vides.

I cut out a layer of tracing paper and taped it onto the costume. Next I started detailing ideas I had in mind, the tracing paper allowed me to design anything I wanted making it so that I can add and take away feely without having in mind any mistakes I will regret in the future daunting on me. Doing this helped me envision the details I planned out in my head and draw them out on paper that was going to part of the costume. This is beneficial because this would allow me to get an visual representation on what I wanted to see on the costume and dispose of any ideas I didn't like that didn't Aline with the costume. The tracing paper made it so that if I made a mistake I could easily erase it on paper than if I were to draw directly on the costume that I couldn't erase. My inspiration came from Cyberpunk Edgerunners so I started designing my entire costume around it. (In the center is the Arasaka tower logo from both the show/game)

I took the same process I mention before and implemented it into the Back Drafting covering my back plate with a roll of tracing paper and drawing over it.

I taped on tracing paper on the shoulders and started drawing my design on their to have an idea on what I wanted to create just like the Chest and Back Drafting this will help me understand which ideas I liked and disliked.

After having a draft on what I had invasion and making sure I was satisfied with it I started drawing directly on the costume with a marker to make the details bold. I had to make sure I was super careful cause any mistakes could leave a permanent mark I will regret later on in the future causing me to start over.

I took the process I mention before and I started taking off the tracing paper and drawing directly on the costume with a marker.

For the shoulders I drew lightly with a pencil as an outline on what I wanted to create and trace over it with a sharpy to bold in the design.

After having all the pieces together I started painting the edges with black paint to help get rid of any foam look that might be present. This will help make the costume look neat with a polish touch to it.

I painting two 3x1/2in black strips of foam and cut out an Exoskeleton design that resembles just like the show onto the costume. I cut out holes in the center of each diamond and taped green foam behind, I spray painting the Exoskeleton with a metallic gray to give it a resemblance just like in the show. Yes I know the inside of the costume doesn't look neat but when you wear it, it covers it up completely hiding away all the tape and green foam behind it so you and others can't notice it. (the technical name for this is a Sandevistan is a cyberware implant that slows down time for everyone else, allowing the user to move at an accelerated speed AKA Speedwear)

After having the Exoskeleton I attach it to the back of the costume. This allowed me to feel like David Martinez from the show.

I wanted to make a forearm accessory that will immerses me more into the show. I started measuring my forearm cause the measurements will help me later on in this Instructable for the design process.

After having a couple ideas in mind I drew it out on paper to have a visual representation of it. After having my draft out on paper I trace it over on foam to have an accurate representation of it. I have a small wrist but a big forearm so I design a shape that best represents me in this way so when I wear it this will look and feel better on me.

I started cutting 3x3in squares and sanding down the edges, top, and bottom cause after I cut the wood it had little blisters popping out so wearing this would hurt a lot. Sanding down these blocks helped it have a smoother look so when I wear it on my forearm it will not pierce through my skin but instead have a soft smooth touch to it. The purpose of this accessory is to feel like weapons coming out of my hand just like when David Martinez was suited up ready to go into battle.

I stuck out my forearm on a piece of wood and traced it over lightly with a pencil. I stuck a table clamp onto the wood so while cutting the wood with the hacksaw it will not move the wood making my life easier to cut the piece I drew out.

After having all the pieces together I combined them with hot glue and started paining them colors just like in the show feeling like I'm immerse in it. I added yellow paint to the accessory because it matches with my back plate which is also yellow blending in together.

I hot glued the wood onto the foam I cut out then hot glued the Velcro straps onto the bottom of the foam to help it stay in place and be adjustable as well.

I got a broomstick to serve as the handle of the axe. If you want to recreate this any long stick will do.

I drew out different axe ideas to attach onto the handle that will match with the costume.

After having the draft I cut out pieces of wood I wanted and combined them together with wood glue. I used table clamps on the wood to help keep the wood in place while we waited for the glue to dry.

I draw out a blade on wood then cut out what I drew. After having the blade I spray painted it red then used water color to paint to make it brighter.

I used wood glue to attach the blade to make it study.

I started painting the axe colors to match my costume and the blade itself while wrapping tape around the head of the axe to give it texture.

I combined all me pieces together and showed off my Cyberpunk Halloween Costume in school and all my teachers love it as well as a whole bunch of other people thought it was brilliant!

Enjoy your night out with your friends. (After making this it felt amazing showing off my costume I worked so hard for and spent a lot of time on.)