Week 7: Presentation time!

 This week I have been mostly preparing for my presentation, trying to make some sketches for my character and starting my 3D printing research. 

These are the slides from the presentation with a script:

Slide 1: My name is Aga Malina, and this is my honours project presentation. 

Slide 2: For my idea I looked into an environmental issues. I got interested in the Ocean's environmental issues, such as acidification, all kinds of pollution and less of biodiversity. I want to make something which will point out the problem and make a statement with it. I'll be making 3D game ready character. I will be creating concept art for it. I will sculpt it, retopologise, texture and I will present it inside of a game engine or Marmoset Toolbag. Then I'll be getting it ready for 3D printing and then I'll be 3D printing it in ecological way. Ready 3D printed figure will be placed on the stand and will be put inside of a snow globe. 

Slide 3: The motivation for this product comes from the fact, that I think we should really protect coral reef and underwater life. It is not only natural piece of art but also it provides food and shelter for many, many species. Without it the biodiversity will be disturbed. We will lose many species and it will eventually affect us, for example food wise. Another motivation for the project is the fact that I would like to be a 3D game artist, character artist. I included some examples of art works from Beccy Collins from the Sumo Digital because I want my pieces to be at the same level and I'm hoping for honours project to elevate my portfolio so I can find an employment. So, the final product will look like this: ready 3D printed figure will be placed inside of a glass snow globe. I'll be making very well detailed platform for it, so I can also exercise my asset creation skills. I'll be posing the character; the character will either present the species in danger or species thriving through environmental changes. I'll be also be putting some microplastic inside, in the liquid so it can float. All of this will be like an art statement but also the character will be like an art statement but also the character will have a game idea. 

Slide 4: Research for my project: I looked into few fields the first one was ocean and marine life with a focus on Coral Reef and environmental issues. Then I looked into so how to present a message through the character's visual design. I'm also looking into sculpting techniques: development from traditional to digital and how it came to 3D printing. Within the 3D printing I'm looking into a process of it, its advantages, and eco-friendly ways of doing that. The last field will be a Snow Globe DIY so I'm going to see what I am need for it and the symbolism behind it. 

Slide 5: I've already gathered some mood boards on games and movies which also talk about environmental issues and I'm looking how they represented characters. I'm also looking to find a way of presenting the issue and trying to convince the players or viewers to take initiative. I'm also looking into other documentaries such as blue Planet by Sir David Attenborough, because they are not only packed with information about sea life but also the present problem in such way, that the viewer feels obligated to take initiative. I'm also looking into literature such as marine biology books about the character design, narratives, also sculpting. At the moment, I started some research on 3D printing. I'm looking into articles, papers, and videos. 

Slide 6: I have been weekly updating my blog, last post was about the style, which I would like to follow for my character. I've also done a bunch of mood boards, these are some examples of it, for example: about the Sea Life and the species, which live within coral reef. I also done mood boards about the action figures and especially the Warhammer figures, how well and detailed they are, because I'd like to do something similar. I looked into a Snow Globe history and symbolism and also looked into environmental issues and what is actually acidification for example. I started doing some sketches for my character. I do not know yet how it will look like or the back sorry for it, but I will have to really figure out how to point out the issue and what the present with it. I also order my snow globe kit, so I'm going to make a test version before the actual version for the project.

Slide 7: Thank you very much for your attention.

The presentation went very well, I managed to make it all in time, 5 minutes. My feedback was, that I need to try and figure out who the character is. Is it representation of mutated species? Is it some sort of hero? I am not sure atm. When I sketch it, it usually remains some sort of queen or mother of the Ocean. I have to have a think if this is the route I want to take.

 I was also recommended the Leviathan documentary, which I will for sure have a look at.

The presentation made me more confident about my project, so it is a time to create a proper plan and get things done.

Sadly the silicone glue did not come on time for my snow globe so I am hoping it will come soon. I would really like to do the test run.

Next week: 

-3D Printing research (but I am hoping to have majority done this week)

-Project Proposal: time to look into the document template and try to write it up.

-More sketches and designing the character: personality and visual

Week 6: rounding up the project statment

Last two weeks were quite busy for me as I was working on my presentation and try to round up my subject and research areas for this project. I think I finally sort of figured it out. 

Just for the case of the catch up, during the tutorial on week 5 we looked closer into research fields for our projects:

I also done some notes to help me understand the logic in my project and if everything makes sense. Also after the tutorial, after the feedback from my college I found a new way of presenting my project. I thought instead of going into game idea which will make my scope for the project larger, I could instead explore sculpting area, progression from traditional, through digital and into 3D printing. Although thinking about the motivation for my project, I would still like to make a 3D game ready character. This could be just a character and there could be a potential for a game idea instead of fully flashed out idea. 

I have done more notes from the last two lectures in week 6. 

After I tried to form the title for my project/dissertation. At the moment I decided on this:

To investigate effects of Oceans environmental issues in marine life through 3D game character visual design, while exploring sculpting techniques development with the focus on eco-friendly 3D printing technology.

In the tutorial for week 6 we tried to pick a source for our research, decide and explain why we think that it would be beneficial to use it. From there I started to look into 3D printing. Currently I am gathering a document with links to articles, papers and videos, which will help me understand the process of it, find advantages and eco-friendly ways of doing it. 

Next steps to take:

- read and make notes about the characters and storytelling books: I have gathered needed books so far and made notes. I will be focusing only on telling the story through characters visual design.

- flip through the marine biology book: is it too technical? Have a look at Dundee other library for more about sea animals: I think I will use the book I have but also look into documentaries such as Blue Planet on Netflix: those might be more helpful in terms of sea life and environmental issues.

Next week:

-start presentation: in progress

-try making the globe as soon as the stuff arrives (record a video): if the stuff comes on time I will try to make one!

-carry on reading about characters/marine life/find books on 3D printing:3D printing would be easier to find on the internet through articles, papers and videos.

-start sketches of the character