Intro to 3D Design Final Report

12 step Project Management

This quarter we continued to work on the 12 Step Heros Journey within the virtual world Second Life. The focus this quarter is our 3D achievement awards that are gifted to people that accomplished big milestones and our place on the wellness wheel (a tool designed to help individuals asses and improve their overall well-being by focusing on various dimensions of their lives). We start at Step 0 is where the hero’s gains their initial spark, the underlying potential that sets the stage for the journey. In our case, “Step” 0 was the pre-existing interest in 3D design and virtual environments.

Step 1 The Ordinary World

I didn’t have a lot of experience in 3D design besides watching a random Timelapse video on Youtube. I was a bit intimidated at first but it turned out to contribute to my creative nature, more so then I expected. We were presented with the concept of 3D design in Second Life which became a world of potential for so many classmates.

Step 2 The Call to Adventure

The start of the quarter has been full of new and exciting things. Our first assignment (Quest) is to create Seamless Textures in our visual vocabulary. We are tasked to create an image that portrays a seamless texture that we can use on our future designs of our 3D designs. Here are some examples:

Ready Player One

We also read the book Ready Player One and learned about its massive, immersive virtual reality world (Thought Provoking 3D). 

These “calls” played a huge part in the way I thought of our project and what we would create. Taking on this new opportunity I was ready to learn what I could to take on our Achievement Award project.

Step 4 Meeting with the Mentor

Watching lectures, doing adventure missions, and meeting with Professor Brock in our one-to-one meeting really helped with finding the path I want to take. I even met with my fellow wheel of wellness partner Lindsey and was able to see her vision.

Step 5 Crossing the First Threshold into the Extraordinary World

Stepping into the world of visualization was not an easy step. Choosing two achievement awards and creating a Previs board was our next assignment. I really wanted to choose things that can represent Emotional & Contribution in the best way possible.

Step 6 Discovery of Superpowers and Challenges

We started with making a 3D couch. I really got into blender within this assignment and really got a taste of 3D design. I watched many Youtube videos (referenced in my 3D Gallery) but I feel like it helped me learn as much as I have already.

Next, our Keys to Success
My Key is the Develop Empathy. We were tasked to create a 3D version of our key in our own interpretation. I realized I might’ve went pretty strong on my own interpretation here

I chose the Develop Empathy key because it can help improve your view of communicating. By understanding others perspectives you can communicate better. Empathy can help you better understand and connect with others. This can lead to higher emotional intelligence. The original key is beautiful already in portraying that, I just tried to make something that also represents understanding of others perspectives by having the pieces connect within each other.

We also created our achievement awards. These have taken up my time the most. My items are very intricate and I am determined to create them, so my prototypes are little slower to be put out.
My crown has taken on many different changes. After speaking to Lindsey I really want to have my awards fit her rose gold theme by making the wiring rose gold as well. Lindseys steakholder, Anna, gave an incredible suggestion to add to the crowns emotions. I decided to take her suggestion and add a diamond the color of our place in the wellness wheel that represents vulnerability. As shown below,

My Utility Belt, just as intricate, was a little easier to produce. Professor Brock gave some advice in making it a bit easier and making the utility belt separate items. Like Batman’s belt or construction belt, easy to remove and get to when needed. You can see as I made different prototypes different ideas came up. I even added a hook for the Hero to put their crown on (a quick discussion Professor Brock and I had in our meeting), see below

Step 7 Adaptation of Perspective and Approach

After speaking to Lindsey about our area in Second Life I got a new understanding of what I’m working with and my partners vision. I decided on going with Lindseys idea of using our 4 sub-sections in the emotional section of our Second Life Island.

Snap Shots taken by Lindsey McEwan

These were the most recent updates and most likely final for Designs

Step 8 The Ordeal

The most challenging phase involved integrating all elements into a cohesive whole, ensuring the achievement awards, textures, and key conveyed the intended message.

Due to my designs having lots of different pieces transferring it from Blender to Second life didn’t really work out. It wasn’t ideal and a little disappointing on my end but this was still an amazing experience.
The snapshot above shows my designs and Key to success in Level 4 of our section of the wellness wheel within Second Life.
The rewards are placed in level 4 because of the hero’s achievement and how far they’ve come. The symbolization of each award equips the Hero/student with the tools to become their best selves.

Step 9 The Reward

The completion of the project resulted in my class and I creating a set of visually appealing and conceptually meaningful 3D achievement awards, seamless textures, and our key to success.

These are the completed products of my achievement awards.

Ive learned so much through the quarter. 3D design wasn’t something I thought would interest me but being able to create like that and see it come to life is very cool. Creating the key was the best way to learn more about blender and how it functions. The original design of the Key is beautiful in itself and I wanted to create something a little different. I started with the base of the key with its original components, from there I I decided to change the design. 
Changing the design was simple one. I wanted to create a key that can represent the understanding of others perspectives by having the pieces connect within each other. As a whole, you can be a better person.

Step 10 The Road Back

This adventure has had lots of ups and very little downs for me. Creating this story within the Second Life world can help students/hero’s understand their own Heros Journey. Putting focus on our achievement awards and self care to help people accomplish big milestones. Being able to have this experience, with challenges to overcome and a goal to achieve made it a true adventure.
Using the Tiara and the Utility Belt to symbolize a navigation through tough times in doubt or fear, a physical manifestation of their belief in themselves.
In the end I have gained so much knowledge from creating and contributing to The Heros Journey.

Step 11 The resurrection

This whole experience has transformed my understanding of 3D design and my ability to apply narrative structures to my creative projects.
Although I didn’t have a Stakeholder it didn’t stop me from finishing the final products

Step 12 Return with the Elixir

So far I have gained many experiences and have gained so much knowledge. I continue to learn more and grow my own mindset. I hope to portray my journey in a way that motivates others to do the same and reach their full potential because there is always room to grow and gain.

Conclusion

This class project demonstrated how effective using the Heros Journey and the Wheel of Wellness as a framework for creative problem solving really paved the way for 3D design. The creation of the achievement awards, seamless textures, and the key to success within Second Life was a great way to our ability to overcome challenges, collaborate, and apply narrative to this amazing project. This experience has provided valuable insights and skills that will contribute to the future.