Minor Project - Avatar Creation
07/09/2023 - 05/10/2023 (Week 01- Week 15)
Yong Kai Yi (0352826)
Minor Project
Avatar Creation
PROGRESSION:
1. Grouping
During the first week, we were required to form a group, and I had no idea which group to go to instead just stuck with my friends/ ex-groupmates who are from UI/UX and graphic design. But in the end, Mr.Mike suggested we as Animation students should choose suitable projects within our field which is the Avatar Creation project, so we chose that project and collab with the Entertainment Design students, some of them are my ex-groupmates too, so it's actually not our first time grouping together.
After a project brief with the client and Mr.Mike, we were given a choice to choose between Mat Oyen, a broadcaster cat, Makcik Kepoh, and Viya the virtual influencer.
fig: project brief
After some discussions, we chose to go for Viya which is more doable for us and matches our strengths and it's what we are interested in too.
2. Contextual Research
We start by dividing what we need to research for this project, for example, technical aspects, competitors, social media market, virtual market, platforms, and so on.
fig: task distribution
fig: miro board
We basically documented all our progressions and research in this MIRO BOARD.
3. User Persona
After researching, we started to do user personas, to find out our target audiences, and how we/Viya as a virtual influencer can bring value to them, what is their needs, and what is Viya's position in the virtual/ social media market.
fig: user persona compilation
4. Data Collection
After discussions, we decided to do interviews to collect qualitative data from the virtual influencer's fans/ enthusiasts. Then, we expand what we collected, and narrow down to conclusions, so that we know how we can improve Viya to increase her market value.
fig: interview notes
5. Insights Discovery
After organizing the data we collected, we came to a conclusion on how we can improve Viya compared to the famous virtual influencers out there and what are the demands in this social media field. We compiled all the ideas, insights, needs, and problem statements, and led to the 'how might we's.
fig: insights discovery miro notes
6. Ideation
We started to brainstorm ideas to launch Viya, so first we came out with a backstory and developed her main personality (personal traits) so that people could tell she's somewhat real, a virtual influencer with emotions. Then, we research existing local influencers and XiaoHongShu how the influencers run their Instagram, how they engage with their followers, how they dress, how they promote brands, how they composite their posts, how they pose, how they take pictures, and so on. We also refer to a few famous virtual influencers who are still active on Instagram, and observe how they BEING an influencer.
Then we ideate how to execute the outcome, we came out with a few ways, for example, posters, outfit showcases, and Instagram Mockups. After finalize to Instagram Mockups, we dive deeper in on how to showcase while focus on the 'how might we's and Viya's personal traits.
fig: ideating
fig: finalizing
7. Proposal
fig: proposal
8. Content Planning
After proposing and getting feedback from both the lecturer and the client, we started to plan on the Instagram content for Viya. We planned the content by days and tried to create some daily routine that Viya would do, just like any other human too, as we always repeat a fixed routine in life.
fig: content plan miro notes
After planning, we researched trendy places that Malaysians can relate to, to do photo shooting.
9. Photoshooting
So, after researching, we plan to visit the PingMin Market and Ikea with a new menu in KL. Each of us had our own roles, Hoiyee as the model, Jiahui as the pose director, me, Jiaxien, and Qiaoyin helped to take pictures, find nice spots, props, and so on.
fig: photo shooting in Ikea Cheras
fig: Viya's model
We actually got a demo session with our client and their team member, Yon, he showed us briefly how the workflow is. So we got Viya's model and imported it into Metahuman.
fig: exploration
I explored a little bit bout Metahuman, and it's actually quite fun!
fig: unreal engine
Import the model in the Unreal Engine, for facial expression, camera setup, and lighting setup.
fig: face rig
We tried the face rig as our second option as LiveLink is not working after first testing, not sure why as we literally followed the exact same steps like before.
fig: first LiveLink test
Our group leader, successfully found out the problem and succeded after a long run testing in campus.
But then, for the second try, it doesn't work again, so we tried face righ instead, but it's too time consuming and the outcome is not as good as LiveLink, and the preset expressions are too limited.
fig: succeded 3rd try LiveLink
After a deadly day, we went back home instead, thought that might using face rig instead, our group leader determined that LiveLink will work, she and Jia Xien succeeded by connecting LiveLink using iPad instead of iPhone, which we never think of it before, we always thought only iPhone can work.
fig: adjust angle
So, we took immediate action in rendering the 'heads', but faced some quality issue. The face looks weird after I rendered one head, and so group leader contacted Yon from EDT to help.
fig: troubleshooting
As we faced some problem in the quality of Viya's face compared to in Metahuman creator, our leader consulted to Yon from EDT, and he actually gave us some tips, by downloading the model in highest quality, set the scalability to cinematic, setting the LODSync to 0.
fig: photoshop
Then, Jiaxien and Qiaoyin quickly render the heads, me and Jiahui helped to blend the heads with the real-life photos, and editings, while Hoiyee doing the stories.
FINAL OUTCOME:
fig: outcome compilation
Our final outcome is 7 days of Viya's Instagram content, including posts and stories. We focused on poses, places to go, things to do, and the way she talks/ interacts that aligns with her personality and appearance. We also created a backstory for her which being enthusiatic in coffee (which is what EDT planned for Viya), and trying to learn latte art (showing her progress in IG stories). Her main personal traits are energetic, outgoing and authentic. As she was inactive for a while, we considered that when she has a comback in Instagram, she can actually shows during the hiatus, she was exploring coffee making, latte art which is something she likes, and games. So it's like she came back stronger.
Our goal is to build a believable, relatable, entertaining virtual influencer.
These are the two posts.
fig: first post in PingMin market
fig: second post in IKEA
fig: final presentation slides
fig: final presentation
Finally, we had our final presentation with our lecturer and client via Zoom meeting on week 15. Glad that the lecturer and the client, Mr.Fariz expressed their satisfaction for the outcome. OMG
final submission: google drive link
REFLECTION:
fig: group photo LOL
I felt so honored and glad to group with these talented group mates. At first, I was REALLY lost, don't know what to do, and don't the purpose. I can't see what goal I needed to achieve for this project. But after meetings, discussions, consultations, all the progress, makes my mind and goal clearer and clearer. I was so excited before the project even starts, as virtual influencers, is definitely something I never heard of or researched about it, and it looks so fun and cool to me. Metahuman and Unreal Engine is so fun and I can't wait to explore more! Although my laptop will literally die after running these softwares.
What I learned the most, is actually something I didn't even think that I will need it, social media planning, marketings, and so on. There are so many things to consider and take care of, besides just designing a visual. A strong backstory is the key too, and what values it will bring to the target audience or even the society. Creating something with values is way more important than the physical appearances, especially for now, people care about contents, fresh and creative contents is really in demand. I never thought that I can gained so much knowledge in this project. I will like to express my gratitude to Mr. Mike who guided us, Mr.Fariz for giving us the opportunity and feedbacks, Yon for giving us techinical support, and every ONE of my group mates, and our big boss GROUP LEADER, yayyy! This project couldn't finished beautifully without any one of you.
! VIYA LA VIDA !
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