Research Proposal Abstract

I said earlier that I would post the outline of my research proposal but it seemed sort of unecessary and I have pretty much finished the whole thing now so here is my Abstract along with my questions, and my aim and objectives.

Abstract

3D for games is quite set in convention, few games challenge this and most 3D art relating to games is usually pushing for higher poly counts with ultra realism, similar to the way fine art made the move to modern art this paper aims to explore a possible outcome of 3D expression, looking at the design methods implied in cubism, deconstructivism, and product design to find out what aspects of design can inform the 3D creative process, some games that are typically not triple A already use low poly art styles focusing on overall aesthetic through the use of colour, composition, sound and animation among other things. From the theory of relativity stemmed the avant-garde way of thinking, modern art embraced this and brought about cubism, surrealism, and eventually these went on to influence post-modern art creating structuralism, deconstructivism, and now it seems like the right time for these art forms to influence digital arts. The paper focuses on the effectiveness of faceted/abstracted 3D in relation to art, games, and other interactive media, it also discusses how the creative process can be researched and tested to form a visually interesting and engaging player experience.

Question

Can a visually pleasing aesthetic be created using low poly models by exploring cubism, deconstructivism, and then used to create a game level that can be tested and iterated on to create a fun player experience with artistic validity?

Aim

To explore trends in design to develop a low poly visually pleasing aesthetic suitable for games, based on the research conducted; this design will then be applied and tested in a game level.

Objectives

Research must be conducted in different fields of design, modern art, post-modern art, to gain more knowledge of design and inform the practice-based research.

Using 3D software (Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Mudbox, Maxon Cinema 4d), Photoshop, and UDK, media tests will be created based on the design research.

Finally a final level will be created that will be reviewed and iterated on until a final piece is achieved that demonstrates the developed visual style but also embraces an enjoyable but simple player experience.