Research and Project Timeline- Developing Work In this project i will: Apply research-driven idea generation to develop a production piece related to emerging technologies. Demonstrate effective project management skills in the creation of the production piece and the compilation of a portfolio. Showcase software proficiency by incorporating appropriate tools and techniques in the production process. Incorporate ethical values and principles in the production piece and portfolio. Exhibit forward-thinking by integrating emerging technology trends and concepts into the work. Week 1& 2 Inspirations, User Research, and Ethics 17/11/2025 My project is largely inspired by Bioluminescence. When talking about the natural phenomenon of Biolumienescence, it described a process where living things such as mushrooms and animals produce a glow, for example organisms in very deep parts of the sea exhibit this amazing glowing characteristic. Natural History Museum states: “The light that living creatures can produce is created by a chemical reaction. For this reaction to happen a plant or animal must carry a molecule called luciferin, plus one of two enzymes called luciferase and photoprotein. When luciferin chemically reacts with oxygen, it releases energy in the form of light..” K. Pavid (N.D.) They also state: “In this environment, the light some animals can create for themselves is fundamental to survival.” K. Pavid (N.D.) Engaging in art is a light we create for ourselves; In my project, I would like to create an experience which provides a space for art and joy. Blackreach My first inspiration is Blackreach, which is a large subterranean bioluminescent cavern beneath Skyrim. The environment is full of blue glowing giant mushrooms and strange plants. I wanted to incorporate elements of this into my project like glowing plants and mushrooms. I found that it is many people’s favourite place in Skyrim due to its aesthetic and its experience, as well as a user who stated: “I couldn’t help but feel fascinated with all the colours” And another user stated “Blackreach is one of the most amazing and innovative locations in all of gaming.” (Archius99 2020 r/Skyrim. Reddit.) In addition to this, someone stated the size of the map to be a huge problem: “It’s a beautiful place, but it’s massive. I think it’s what causes a lot of people to dislike it.” (OrangePoweraid 2020 r/Skyrim. Reddit.) Therefore I think the smaller size of my 360 environment could help with this pain point, while still keeping the colours and general theme. Biolum Another inspiration includes Biolum, a VR immersive underwater experience on Meta Quest. It features visuals such as glowing plants and animals, and lots of aqua blue colours which I thought would be captivating, as well as enhancing the aesthetic usability of my project. Flora Inspirations In Subnautica In addition to these examples, I am also inspired by all the different types of glowing and unusual alien flora found in the underwater game Subnautica, and would like to create some of my own alien plants for my VR experience, in blender. Cory Strader, the art director for Subnautica states on drawing inspiration for the assets in the game: “Some of the more basic flora has a closer relationship to actual earth vegetation, such as the grass, seaweed, and coral branch filler assets.” P.Warr (2017) In considering both these things, I think it will be useful to draw inspiration from the natural world, while still having the freedom to create something new and captivating that users will enjoy such as glowing ferns, improving the aesthetic usability effect. Racoon Lagoon One other competitor for this project is a VR game called Racoon Lagoon. I am inspired by, and love the ethereal and glowy nature of the landscape blended with fantasy. I also liked the stylized low poly style as this will be easier to render and a sensible way to execute my vision. One Reddit user states that “Racoon Lagoon is a wonderful cosy game”, They also state that Racoon Lagoon “has more vibrant colours and very nice to look at in general”. Gregasy (2024) It can be noted that a similar theme of users perceiving a higher Aesthetic Usability due to these vibrant looking visuals. Fuji Gardening Adventure During my research for other VR experiences with bioluminescence, I found a game called Fuji Gardening Experience. This is a game where you can play as a magical gardener in an ethereal world in space, and this inspired me that it could be fun for players to be in outer space for my VR experience. User Profile It can be seen from my user research in my first submission, that the demographic for this experience ranges from ages: 18-54 . Pain points include “massive maps being off putting” User wants include, “vibrant and fascinating colours”. Something nice to look at. Accessibility needs include, a safe experience, and an accessible experience, which can be accessed standing or sitting. Accessibility and Ethics Considerations One UX I proposed to use is Hick’s Law, which will utilise the small space of the environment to allow people to have this VR experience, without feeling lost, or overwhelmed with choice and the size of the space. This can help with those who are Neuro Divergent, as it can be extremely tough on the senses to put on a headset and enter a new environment. It is preferable that the environment be a small experience, making it more accessible. Medium also states “Staying too long in VR may cause social isolation or change how people see reality.” Using Hick’s Law to make a smaller and shorter experience will help with this ethical consideration, to give regular breaks to using VR headsets. Week 3- Mid Fidelity Sketches, Colours 1/12/2025 The colours I decided to use as a theme for my environment are based off of bioluminescence in the natural world, as well as the colours I enjoyed from my inspirations, such as the glowing aqua marine from Blackreach in Skyrim, and in Subnautica… Continue reading Portfolio/Production