Visual Narrative 3D: Retro Device

1.1 Brainstorm

To set myself a foundation I created mind maps for potential time periods and devices I could base my project on. In terms of time period, I was particularly drawn to the islamic golden age/ pre-islamic Arabia due to the my more personal connection I would have considering my Middle Eastern heritage/background. I feel I would be able to infuse my existing knowledge to really encapsulate this time period to an accurate degree. However, I was equally intrigued by the Baroque period as even though this is a highly culturally driven time period it was an era predominately driven by music and the arts hence I find this could be a more unconventional approach to the project. In essence, I intend to narrow my research towards these periods before making a conclusive decision. In terms of device, I found it difficult to narrow down ideas due to the infinite options that I found myself surrounded by. Nonetheless, I was drawn towards a few particular objects including web applications, a coffee machine and a drone. Hence, I intend to experiment with these devices before making a choice. I want to take an unconventional route with my device to ensure I think outside the box as much as possible for my final device. I struggled to reimagine the basic structure of some devices as I know their existing forms hence a web application may be more ideal as I have to imagine it as a tangible object without having a preexisting reference.

1.2 Research and Moodboard

The device I have decided to fixate on is a web application called ‘The Sound Colour Project’. The application essentially retains frequencies of sound using a preexisting algorithm coded on javascript and generates a series of colours based on these tones, fundamentally encapsulating the experience of synesthesia and exploiting/ expanding the spectrum/relationship of interactive audio and visual language. I thought of this device during my brainstorming in which I considered devices that help people with disabilities and considered a conversation I had with my cousin about the broad spectrum of autism and the various forms it takes place in. With that said, I considered how autistic individuals retain and perceive music and art. Hence, I inquired into the behind the science of sound and colour as an interconnected unit. From my research I discovered Chromesthesia in which one sense triggers another sense insinuating that an experience of sound can trigger mental images of colours. I loved the idea of how people can view the world in such a rare and beautiful form. I thoroughly enjoyed the research process due to the way I got to delve into more than a device but rather also an intriguing phenomenon between sound and colour. I feel more immersed in the project, compelling me to not only consider the logical functions of my retro device but also the experience I want it to induce and emulate. I am also very satisfied with my chosen device due to its unconventionality and interactive element in stimulating the brain, hence I have the opportunity to really redefine it and consider its functions in an analogue manner.

I am enthralled by the aesthetics and ethereal dominance imbedded in the baroque period of Italy. From the images I gathered in my research I was able to deduce there was a sense of spirituality and celestialism infused into the architecture and music that constituted this unparalleled sense of intricacy. I feel I could integrate/ mimic this sense of intricacy and etherealism into my retro device by relying on traditional mosaics and stained glass patterns that were introduced at the time and prominent in cathedrals. Not only would this amplify the time periods of my device but would also show that the device is intended for someone of higher class. I loved this segment of the research process as I got to acknowledge a new culture and decipher the layers of this beautiful culture from an artistic standpoint.

1.3 Potential Devices Exploration Sketches

I reinvented a coffee machine in the golden islamic period as my initial idea. While the fun forms and shapes apparent appealed to me I felt that it appeared more like a science experiment as opposed to an enticing and high class coffee machine. Additionally, the way it would function is a mechanical pump would push water up to the grinder and into the cup, while this would be fun to animate I feel there could be a more unconventional way of powering the machine. Nonetheless, I liked how I got to imbed my arabic culture into the typography on the machine but I feel I could expand on this by adding intriate arabic oriented mosaics and embellishments. Overall, I did not engage well with this device and intend to explore my other options.

1.4 Experimenting Potential Devices

Emulating the experience of chromesthesia highly appealed to me so I decided to explore mechanical ways in which this app can be transformed into. I created various designs of glasses, the first design instigated thoughts of a television box and alluded to the space race time period as opposed to the baroque period, appearing too futuristic and robotic in a sense hence I chose to explore the second design more thoroughly by experimenting with blocking on Maya. I created these glasses with a harmonica/flute like mouth piece intended to be blown into in which the various tones would trigger the coloured lenses to switch out. While I loved the exaggerated lenses this piece lacks in practicality as in reality they would not sit well on someones face due to the composition of the lenses. Additionally, I find the overall appearance to reflect a steampunk like era, detracting from the high class ethereal baroque period. I feel I could attempt to resolve this by adding embellishments and mosaics around the border of the lenses. Nonetheless, I love the overarching concept of the glasses and feel it captures the web application in an equally creative and technical manner without the use of technology, hence I will be exploring more variations of this outcome in the subsequent stages of the project.

1.5 Annotated Sketch of Chosen Device:

This is the final design I have decided to model as my retro device. The device is intended to combine the basic properties of a headset, glasses and guitar. The sides of the headset acts as guitars that are intended to be strummed manually, triggering the coloured lenses to drop according to the pitch/tone being strummed. What particularly appeals to me from this design is the fact that the headsets create this isolated/alienated headspace as you retain the music and experience these colours in your own space, disregarding/ blocking out your environment. I feel this imitates the experience of chromesthesia to a higher and more accurate degree as it’s an internal experience that you can’t share with others, there’s that underling sense of isolation. While I love the general form of the device, the colours and shape of the lenses could be improved to echo the time period. Similar to the previous design I feel the appearance can be confused with that of a steampunk era. To resolve this I intend to use a more minimalistic colour palette of white and gold and incorporate embellishments inspired by cathedrals in Italy, adding subtle yet intricate details that assert a sense of ethereality.

The process of blocking the devices on Maya was very smooth in which I used the basic form of a cylinder as the base to the headset and relied don the extrusion tool to attain the megaphone like form. An aspect I struggled with was the curvature of the headband. After some guidance, I learnt and experimented with the various ways you could create a curve in Maya including the pencil curve tool and the three point curve tool. I discovered using the three point curve tool is the most ideal method for the headband whilst the pencil tool could be applied for more intricate swirls. This experience has also strengthened my ability to break down the forms apparent in my device, deciphering the basic and most ideal shapes to use, ensuring I attain my desired outcome. As a byproduct, I have become more intuitive in using Maya. Overall, the experience of backing was very fun and I intend to start honing in on the details of the structure by bevelling the edges.

2.1 Lego Man Maya Tutorial

Modelling this lego man gave me such a thorough understanding of the broad and versatile functions of Maya. I decided to model the lego man myself before following the actual tutorials to contrast the methods I could use. I heavily relied on layering shapes and the extrusion tool but found there are other functions that enhance the structure of the model. I found the target weld, fill hole and bridge tools to attain the desired shape from one basic shape as opposed to using multiple shapes.

UV unwrapping was the most difficult portion of the process as I struggled to decipher the most ideal edge to cut. I became more observant in the process as I had to pay attention to other the wrapping was morphed/condensed/ stretched or whether it was evenly distributed and optimised. Additionally, I had to ensure the typology was perfect with no additional vertices or edges otherwise the UV wrapping would restrict my ability to sew and cut. Nonetheless, after uv unwrapping different parts I started getting more familiar with the process and confident in choosing where to cut. Overall, I did not enjoy this portion of the process due to the repetitiveness and maticulousness of the process.

3.1 Developing the Chosen Device:

After formulating and reflecting on my initial design, I chose to explore a different route for the aesthetics of my device. While I was allured by the rich red and gold tone from the first design, it instigated thoughts related to the emergence of the steampunk era. Additionally the brown bark wood of the guitar detracted from the elegance and ethereality I was initially attempting to attain. To improve this, I chose a colour palette predominately comprised of gold and white inspired by Italian cathedrals in the baroque period (as seen in my moodboard). Additionally, I infused a simple mosaic pattern inspired by the stained glass windows of cathedrals, adding a subtle sense of cohesion with the stained glass inspired lenses. The mosaic pattern in amalgamation with the swirl like embellishments fundamentally enhances the intricacy of the headphones, amplifying the heavenly and royal like appearance of the piece. Additionally, I adjusted the lenses to be more circular inspired by traditional opera glasses, I felt tghsi would be more fitting to the composer based backstory/context as well as time period.

I really enjoyed modelling the headphones. I feel once I started I could not stop due to the elation I would get from seeing my idea gradually come to a reality. As I was modelling I started seeing more opportunities to add embellishments and saw the vast possibilities I could take with the design based on the functions I have familiarised myself with in Maya. The most difficult part was avoiding a level of repetitiveness in the swirls hence to alleviate this I varied the scale and thickness of them. In the midst of the process I became acclimatised to the range of curve tools I could use and chose the pencil curve too and three point curve tool to create the headband. I found the pencil curve tool easy to use as I could take the most control over the shape I want and make adjustments by controlling the vertices. I potent feature is the small swirls I added to the lens handles as it adds this subtle detail that does not overpower the headband but alternatively compliments the handstand and adds a sense of uniformity between the various components of the device. To improve the model I would have curved the lenses like real glasses, adding some more dimension to the device. The most challenging part of the modelling process was UV unwrapping the various components especially the more intricate shapes such as the swirls as I had to ensure my typology was perfect before proceeding to do so. Since I used the bevel tool and extrusion, this created some altercations to my typology hence I had to strenuously find and amend the typology in order to UV unwrap. Nonetheless, I relied on automatic UV unwrapping for the more complex shapes and applied planar for the more simple shapes.

4.1 Maya to Substance Painter

My first impression of substance painter was relatively positive in which there was some level of familiarity as it shared similar functions and the same premise as other adobe softwares on terms of layers. I love the versatility of the programme in terms of the extensive range of textures it provides as well as the option to alter various factors of the textures such as roughness and height. A challenge I encountered was wrapping my head around the functions and purpose of the black mesh and baking the mesh but after having to repeat the process for the different parts of the legman I gradually adapted to the software and developed a liking for it. I had fun experimenting and playing around with the tools and delving into the ways I could transcend the subject being modelled. I definitely preferred substance painter over Z brush as it felt more user-friendly and the controls were more intuitive to me. As a byproduct I intend to use substance painter to further develop and complete my model.