Role: CG Director 3D Lead, Co-Creative Director
Duties: 3d Department lead, Technical Art Direction, Project planning, Pipeline Setup, 3D Asset creation and sourcing approval, and management.
Scheduling and Task management.
Client-side Liason.
Other Contributor :
Ryan Anderson, 3D Generalist
Mitch Tapia: Designer: UI
Amin Ashtar Ali: Motion graphics
Styleframe and Motion test
I'm excited to share my fresh approach to art direction in this production! Rather than sticking with the usual style frames, I created several real-time versions using the Unity engine, which is perfect for our target platform. This innovative strategy empowers clients to select a look they adore while ensuring we align with their budget and set realistic expectations for what virtual reality can achieve. It’s all about collaboration and truly honoring their vision and resources!
The example below represents a warmer version of the environment I created to depict California's desert-like landscapes and dry brush areas. The large rock cliffs and mountain ranges are a stylistic reimagining of California's unique terrain variations, showcasing the diverse ecosystems that characterize this region. Each scene illustrates the generational migration paths of the monarch butterfly, guiding users on a journey from the past to the present. As the experience unfolds, the scenes gradually evolve around the user to narrate the monarch's journey.
Pre-Production: Design & Discovery
Exploring the Art of Direction
During pre-production, I enthusiastically explored a variety of exciting ideas to discover the perfect art direction for this project. I developed two wonderfully distinct approaches. The first was inspired by the vibrant and captivating color palette of animated feature films from the beloved Studio Ghibli. This concept beautifully blended a playful, low-poly cartoon style with warm, inviting cinematic lighting reminiscent of charming American 3D animations.
mood boards for Studio Ghibli/ animated feature art direction
The second idea was even more ambitious, and while it ultimately didn't make the final cut, it was a thrilling process that led us to the first style, which the client loved! I affectionately called this concept "playful plush." While it retained some similarities to the first approach, it embraced a delightful plush toy design, envisioning a world filled with textures like felt and cloth. This creativity would enhance the design of leaves and rocks, giving the environment a warm, cuddly vibe. The overall design celebrated simplicity, transforming basic shapes into trees, rocks, hills, and mountains and inviting everyone into a captivating, whimsical world!
Moodboards Ref for playful plush Art direction
Creative Direction: 3D User Interface Design
One of the challenges we encountered was creating an experience without any voiceover, as requested by the client! Given that this exhibit is situated in a vibrant public museum, it was crucial to consider our visitors' diverse dialects and languages.
Keeping this in mind, I developed a range of engaging animated 3D Pictograms to vividly narrate the rich history of each period showcased. For instance, I've included an inspiring illustration of a native California plant. By highlighting various flowers that are vital for the Monarch butterfly's food and reproduction, we emphasize the importance of nurturing our local environment. This approach supports the Monarchs on their incredible generational journey, ensuring they have a thriving ecosystem to call home. It’s an honor to contribute to an experience that connects with our community and promotes environmental stewardship! One of the challenges we faced was creating an experience without any voiceover, as requested by the client. Since this exhibit is located in a vibrant public museum, it was essential to consider the diverse dialects and languages of our visitors.
To address this, I developed a variety of engaging animated 3D pictograms to vividly narrate the rich history of each time period showcased. For example, I included an inspiring 3d illustration of a native California plant.
(see image below (A) )
By highlighting various flowers that are crucial for the Monarch butterfly's food and reproduction, we emphasize the importance of nurturing our local environment. This approach supports the Monarchs on their incredible generational journey, ensuring they have a thriving ecosystem to call home. It’s an honor to contribute to an experience that truly connects with our community and promotes environmental stewardship!
(a) 3d ui pictogram construction, 3d UI assets ready for export to unity
(b) UI Design Finalization, Icon exploration with the UI artist
(c) Early UI placement exploration
