A first-person virtual reality experience with architectural elements, a central sculpture, and surrounding landscape.
Project Type: Academic (Individual)
Tools: Unreal Engine, Meshmixer
THE ASSIGNMENT
Questions, Problems, and Paradoxes: Create a virtual reality experience investigating a problem or question that intrigues you.
CONCEPT
The Social Clock: A term used in the field of psychology that represents a culturally defined timeline for social milestones.
RESEARCH
Inspiration Board
Architectural Influences: The Centre Pompidou, Big Ben & the Eiffel Tower
PROCESS
To represent the social clock in this medium, I choose to incorporate physical representations of time such as clocks and hourglasses. I began by building the main structure, a clock tower with a fire escape around it, in Unreal Engine. The contrast between traditional and industrial structures is intended to emphasize the idea of passing time. Next, I used Meshmixer to create the clock face for the tower and the central hourglass sculpture.
The following Thingaverse models were modified:
“Baby Carriage” by 2354082user - Thing 2001544 - CC - Attribution; “Briefcase” by Techgineer - Thing 1033632 - CC - Attribution; “Engagement Ring” by Matt_Gyver - Thing 4673015 - CC - Attribution - Non-Commercial; “Graduation Cap” by Zeffer7 - Thing 2348286 - CC - Attribution; “Handicap Sign” by LADesigns - Thing 2765280 - CC - Attribution; “Hourglass: Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day” by MosaicManufacturing - Thing 5382411 - CC - Attribution; “I Voted” by BeakerTX - Thing 4628177 - CC - Public Domain Dedication; “Kinetic Block Nameplate” by jor2daje - Thing 235297 - CC - Attribution - Share Alike: “Mobius Heart” by mathgrrl - Thing 249696 - CC - Attribution - Non-Commercial - Share Alike; “Skull” by trailogy - Thing 518109 - CC - Attribution - Share Alike
The hourglass sculpture is a culmination of pre-made 3D assets downloaded from Thingiverse. I manipulated the shape of the hourglass and resized the other assets in Meshmixer before adding colors and materials in Unreal Engine. The objects embedded in the sand of the hourglass represent major life events, with those in the bottom having already occurred, and those in the top being yet to pass. Once I imported the sculptures into Unreal Engine, I created a desert landscape, added light elements, and incorporated audio of a ticking clock.
View the full 3-minute walkthrough: