Endless Endeavor
Endless Endeavor
Endless Endeavor
Endless Endeavor
Company
Role
Deliverable
Location
Thesis For BFA Digital Design
Lead Digital Designer
3D Animation
Remote
Endless Endeavor
3D Animtaion
Overview
Process
Design
Conclusion
This was my thesis project detailing the abilities of AI before it became as big as it is now. It went over how AI needed to be heavily regulated and what it could and couldn’t do for the time. I utilized a lot of 3D motion design and elements in this project that would blend seamlessly with 2D animation. I used blender to model all the pieces mechanically and Cinema 4d with Xparticle to create the animation and motion. Then all of it was put into after effects for polish and final touches.
First being tasked with a thesis we needed to find a problem in the world and either explain, bring awareness to, or solve. In mine I went to bring awareness too. I found that AI would be rising quickly especially after the pandemic. My first process was researching as much as I could about AI. What it is, what it can do, and what it may be able to do. I know that the data and research is exponentially outdated, but for the time Gen AI, the environmental damage, and what was needed to maintain AI was not part of the research at the time. The primary research was on how it would displace white color jobs, like accounting, project management, and other jobs that were like that.
In the first few months I focused on research reading up on the history of AI, its origins, its holds and its growth. I wanted to gain a full understanding of AI and where it was heading. I then talked to industry professionals on their views and how they worked on AI and what they gave it to learn. In this time it was interesting as the line between Machine learning and AI were pretty blurred. As the LLM’s continued to grow, so did the need for information and their abilities. This gave me insight on what I wanted it to look like and how to produce the information.
The style of the motion piece went through multiple iterations. I wasn’t sure how I wanted the piece to look whether to blend styles that were realistic with it or if I wanted it to be fully monochromatic. I looked at Ash Thorp and Zaoeyo for inspiration. I finally settled on a monochromatic style that would blend 2d animation with 3d animation. I utilized redshift to get a clean material, and used Xparticles to give a more experimental look of the piece. I settled on a golden off white color instead of a classic tech blue. I wanted this piece to give a different style of story telling using different techniques and non linear tech inspiration to give more of a futuristic styling.
I 3D modeled different pieces of random machinery bits and created lines of code that would be written on and off the screen to give it a look of AI thinking and creating. This led to a more cohesive styling and a unique piece that would lead to the final piece of AI hitting the point of singularity. The animation and motion design of the piece was very successful. I will say writing a script is not my specialty and I have much more on what I would like to talk about with AI now.
The thesis was a hit. I ended up graduating in the top percentile of my class. I also have a lot more thoughts on AI as this was created in 2021 when AI was just budding as a piece of technology.
