CONTRIBUTIONS:
Research, Visual & Conceptual Development, 3D Modelling, Poster Design, Alternate Reality
TOOLS:
Blender, Adobe Aero, InDesign, Illustrator
DURATION:
3 weeks (March 2023)
PROJECT SUMMARY:
"Faux Flower" was an AR experience I created using a 3D model I sculpted in Blender and a QR code poster. Scanning the code opens up the model in Adobe Aero on mobile phones, so through the phone screen you can place the flower model anywhere and keep it as an undying plant to be viewed at any time, from any angle, in any physical space. I explored contrast of physical and virtual space through alternate reality and gained valuable skills in 3D modelling and creating AR experiences.
CONCEPT:
Based on the "amaranth" and "3D" prompts I had for this project, I considered my own love for plants and struggle with keeping them alive. I can never seem to keep real flowers alive, so I used AR to make a realistic flower that can be placed anywhere and will never die. Creating digital plants is one of my passions when getting creative with technology, as I love thinking of the web as a sort of permanent collection of undying sites. The contrast between living plants and the immortality of the web is something that really engages me. With "amaranth" having the definition of immortality, it felt appropriate to integrate for this project.
PROJECT BRIEF:
This project was created for a class assignment. For my Graphic Design 4 class in my undergrad, we spent the whole semester independently creating three assignments around a central theme. The theme was assigned at the start of the term, and I was assigned the word "amaranth". This game was created under the prompt for a "3D" piece of work, which was fully open-ended to our interpretation. I chose to create an AR experience, with all the AR experience design, 3D modelling, poster design, and concept being created by myself over a period of 3 weeks.
TECHNICAL WRITE-UP:
I had never used Blender before this assignment, but I wanted to challenge myself to learn a new skill, especially one as versatile as 3D modelling. It took a lot of research, as well as trial and error, but I have a solid grasp on the tool now and I am glad to have it in my toolbox.
I had used Adobe Aero before this project, which served as the inspiration to use AR for this open-ended project. I love that I was able to create a 3D object that can be placed anywhere, but it only exists by looking through a phone. I learned how to situate my Blender file in Aero and I added a small animation that spins the flower if it's tapped after being placed.
The poster I created using InDesign and Illustrator was a quick project that I had fun with. The goal was to consider an experimental integration of a QR code while offering a prompt to invite users into the experience. The illustration was created in Illustrator, then brought into InDesign to be integrated with the typography.
(The video is the AR experience as seen when the QR code is scanned. The experience only works on mobile devices, but to access it you can scan the code on the poster!)
