In this post, I will detail what ‘immersive design’ consists of as well as outlining my initial research and ideas which I will use to influence and create my final visual piece.
What is Immersive Design?
Immersive design is the process of creating video content that provides a fully immersive and sometimes interactive experience for the viewer. It involves capturing visuals using 360 degree cameras (in person or using software such as Maya), which captures the entire environment surrounding the camera. This footage is then put together and edited to create an immersive viewing experience. The final product is either viewed using a virtual reality headset or on a 360 degree video player such as YouTube, allowing the user to look around and explore the environment as if they were physically there inside the scene. Immersive 360 video can be used for a range of products, such a simple entertainment piece to marketing for a product, or even safety training and education.
Initial Influence
To begin this module, it was important that I researched the Alice in Wonderland story. As someone who’s never seen or read any version of the story, it was important to look into the story as a whole to help me understand it’s themes. Using this research would then allow me to take inspiration from the story and apply it to my production piece, creating a video that is not only original design wise but also had a references back to the original story.
My initial research into the Alice in Wonderland story revealed that the story revolves around a girl called Alice who follows a rabbit into a magical world. Along the way, she encounters some of her old friends and goes on a series of adventures. Using this research, I was able to find out the key themes that would be relevant to my own video. I knew that I needed to incorporate a similar theme, whether it was positive or negative, to create an engaging product.
In conclusion, the purpose of my research was not only to gather an understanding of the story but also to explore the underlying themes and how I can incorporate them into my final video. This would allow me to create a video that is unique but also remains reminiscent of the original story of Alice in Wonderland. Using this research, I hope to produce a final piece that is not only visually appealing but also leaves the audience guessing the next move through an effective narrative.
Initial Ideas
My initial idea is to overturn the concept of Alice in Wonderland by creating a fictional dystopian world that features virtual beings who are out to get you. This environment will be heavily influenced by the aesthetics of Watch Dogs: Legion and will explore similar themes while remaining faithful to the narrative of Alice in Wonderland.
In essence, I aim to create a visual that challenges the traditional characteristics of Wonderland by presenting a darker and more ominous theme throughout. By incorporating elements of virtual reality and dystopia, I hope to engage the user in an effective way, while still staying true to the Wonderland story.
My intention is to retain the concept of being enticed into a dreamworld, but alter the narrative by presenting a scenario where the user is lured into danger and stripped of control. In this world, I aim to create a crossover between the real world and a dystopian world by using various techniques, such as structures that appear ordinary but transform into holograms or adding futuristic elements such as drones (similar to the scene presented in Figure 3). Through these visual and narrative elements, I hope to generate a sense of unease in the audience, while still keeping them engaged with the work.
References
Zelby, E. (2019) History of the Idiom ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ – Useless Knowledge Blog – Medium. Medium. Available online: https://medium.com/useless-knowledge-daily/history-of-the-idiom-down-the-rabbit-hole-fe044ff96fde [Accessed 1 May 2023].
Wright, S. and Wright, S. (2020) Watch Dogs Legion Achievement guide and roadmap. Stevivor. Available online: https://stevivor.com/guides/watch-dogs-legion-achievement-guide-roadmap/ [Accessed 1 May 2023].
Oloman, J. (2020) First Look: ‘Watch Dogs: Legion’ is an amazing idea trapped in a familiar framework. NME. Available online: https://www.nme.com/features/gaming-features/first-look-watch-dogs-legion-is-an-amazing-idea-trapped-in-a-familiar-framework-2772739 [Accessed 1 May 2023].
