Project 2 prelim: Gallery Design

Gallery Space Design

Having seen and visited a variety of different spaces in SL, I have decided I would like a simple gallery design to allow for the viewing pleasure of SL avatars. One thing that frequently annoys me when shopping or viewing art in SL is the issue os having to scroll across and use the camera buttons to move up and down. In my gallery, I would like avatars to be able to easily view my work without having to put forth a lot of work.

I also would like to have an open space, so my gallery will not be totally enclosed within four walls. I plan to have a small second floor that can be reached by either a spiral staircase (the ambitious plan) or block stairs (the less ambitious plan). The second floor will be a transparent texture so that people can see what is going on below them, as will the large wall that will face the water. My real-life artwork will be hung in "frames" around the gallery. I would like to come up with some kind of display to put in the middle of the first floor to house my line of second life objects as well.

For seating, I was very inspired by the kinds of furniture seen in Filthy Fluno's gallery/studio space. I think something quirky like tire seats would be neat, but it will all depend on the final design of the rest of my space.

-Maiha Kimono-

Project 1 prelim: Sketches of Line of Objects

Line of Belts with Buckles

I ended up revamping my idea for the line of objects I will be creating in SL. In my original research, I was focused on creating a line of clothing. I have decided to narrow the lines down, and to create a line of belts with belt buckles.

I would like to design three different types of belts - the first will be a single belt, the second will be a double belt, the third will be a "fabric" belt - more like a sash. I will need to investigate a bit more to determine whether or not I should design separate belts for male and female avatars. 

For each of these belts I will create several belt buckles. My aim is to allow for the belt buckles to be interchangeable - each belt with come with multiple buckles that can be unlinked from the belt and changed - you could probably even put two buckles on if you so desire!

-Maiha Kimono- 

For the display space I was thinking of something very unorthodox. The space will be pyramid in shape with glass walls. There will be two levels and the way to access the second level will be a spiral staircase in the middle.

Product Line

I would like to do a line of necklaces. I was thinking it would be either based on the four elements or the four seasons.

Sketches for display space in world

I imagine my design space to be an open space without walls. I was thinking of having stairs that lead people up big stairs that would have a single artwork at the top. I love the idea that nothing can be destroyed by the weather elements and there are not really rules of building to stop me from making a funky building.

Sketch for product line

I love the idea of doing lamps for my product line. I love lamps because they can be so geometric in form and you are limitless when it comes to design. I want to focus on a modern form but an eclectic design of textures and patterns for the decoration of the lamp shades.

Project 1 prelim: Create Line of Objects in SL

There are two "lines" of objects I am interested in designing - both involve clothing.

One: Cosplay for Naruto manga/anime

In the real world it is called cosplay - dressing up like characters from your favorite manga or anime. In SL, I guess it's just creating your SL persona. This first idea is design a "line" of objects that are clothing items considered "ninja gear" in the Naruto universe. To the right are some examples I found in one of the largest cosplay shopping areas I know of at Konoha Village [click for larger image].

top: uchiha gear:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shinobi/131/2/27
left: cosplay full:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shinobi/131/2/27
right: jonin vest:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shinobi/81/211/1040

Two: Vintage line of clothing

Not sure what the focus would be, possibly Rockabilly as I found some neat stuff. For this, I just did a search for various types of clothing items or fashion types and stumbled around SL until I found things I liked. For this it would probably be a complete outfit, like bottom, top and accessory - I would really like to figure out how to make belts and scarves, though I didn't find any examples of scarves anywhere, unless I just missed them.  To the right are some examples I found [click for larger image].

left: sweater/vest:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bangu/32/85/1008
top right: vintage dress:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Divine%20Oasis/213/25/23
bottom right: belts:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Belgique/80/175/26


-Maiha Kimono-

TU Graduation T-shirt design

My t-shirt design is for Towson University's 2010 graduations. My avatar is making a scary gesture called BOO.

The back of my T shirt design has the Towson University URL on it. My avatar has different hair in this picture because otherwise it is too long and covers the URL. The URL is wwwnew.towson.edu

First Impression of SL

This is certainly a new experience for me as I had never heard of Second Life prior to enrolling in this course. I'll be honest that so far, my impression of SL is that this is going to be a bit overwhelming. It is so foreign to anything I have ever experienced. I hear that this is a typical reaction and that it will pass as one becomes more familiar with it. It does seem like it could be a lot of fun though, so I will continue to play around.

I do feel that the environment itself is really cool and I am looking forward to being able to building stuff. I am especially impressed with how detailed and stunning the graphics are in the background. Some of these environments are absolutely beautiful!

Exercise 2: SL T-Shirt for TU Event - SHOOTING BEAUTY

'Shooting Beauty' was scheduled to be screened tomorrow evening, Thursday, February 11, 2009, at 7:30 pm in Van Bokkelen Auditorium. Unfortunately, due to Snowmageddon's Revenge, the university has closed. Now I am not sure if our screening will ever happen. ASTU (Anthropological Society of Towson University) was supposed to screen this last semester, but something happened and it got pushed back. Here's hoping it gets pushed back again. This film looks absolutely amazing.

(click image for larger view)

The film is about a fashion photographer who spent over a decade teaching people with disabilities about photography. The trailer nearly made me cry; it looks to be a pretty emotional film.

Check out the trailer on vimeo:
http://vimeo.com/2754536

Check out the Arts Calendar for more information: 

http://www.towson.edu/artscalendar/filmslecturesdebates.asp

-Maiha Kimono-

Discussion 1: Initial SL Reaction

It is very hard for me to describe my initial reaction to Second Life. I don’t really remember it. I first joined SL about two years ago – I can’t even remember exactly. It was when I first discovered TU was in SL. I thought, ‘Hey! This looks cool, let me join!’

I made my avatar, using the Harujuku (spelling?) avatar, which actually is not available anymore. I spent days on end on the intro island. I had so many issues trying to figure SL out. I couldn’t get my avatar to move. I kept getting stuck places. I was having issues flying. Then I tried to drive a car. That failed miserably. I eventually got off Orientation Island and moved around a bit. I found the London College of Fashion ‘campus’ at some point. I took a class there when I studied abroad in London.  I wandered through TU’s Island. Logged back on a couple times and then decided to give up. SL wasn’t for me.  Plus my old computer could not handle the program very well. I deleted my account and gave up.

I rejoined last spring for my first IAMD classes at TU, having to make a new avatar since I had deleted my old one. This time around, I actually understood what was going on when I got in there. I watched a lot of tutorial videos for our class assignments. And I finally started to get it figured out. I have found a number of cool, exciting places, and even though up a research project, combining my studies in anthropology and interactive media, and I am very excited about it.

-Maiha Kimono- 

Exercise 1: Maiha Kimono SL Avatar v. Kelly B. in real life

Maiha Kimono the avatar is lightly based on the look of an anime character. She frequently will wear ninja gear inspired by real life anime shows.

Maiha is a graduate student studying Interactive Media Design. She is interested in anthropology, creative writing, photography, media studies, graphic design, web design, music, fashion, social media, how people interact using social media and how the real world connects us to the virtual world, vice versa, and how it affects our lives in both.

In real life: grad student; bachelor’s in anthropology; semi-professional photographer; creative writer; a passion for fashion. Also slightly obsessed with anime. Take that as you will.

-Maiha Kimono-

Exercise 2: T-shirt design (correction)

So here is the correction (front and back) advertising TU's upcoming music events.

Exercise 2: T-shirt design

Here is my avatar's new shirt.

Of course I just noticed that this shirt was meant to advertise a TU event...so there will be another design posted shortly :)

New semester of Simulation Design - ART475 and ART615

So begins a new semester for Simulation Design at Towson University. This semester we have 2 undergraduates and 1 graduate student involved in the course. This small seminar of students will be using this blog to document, record and reflect on the work they create in Second Life this semester. It is my hope this content can later be published in the form of a small book using the self-publishing company blurb. As students in the course you may choose to create a book as well after we have finished the course this semester.
Bee