A visual communication project, creating content for an urban fantasy setting that I created.
Create content which helps support the creation of stories in the urban fantasy setting, Solace.
By drawing on existing narrative elements from Solace’s environment (these being, the threat of an encroaching wasteland against the rise of two small suns), content could support further story creation and feel grounded in the world.
Personal Case Study
2021 – Present
Visual Communication
Graphic Design
Motion Design
3D Animation
3D Modelling
Solace is the setting for a collection of stories which I have been working on since 2019.
The stories span over 400 years taking Solace itself from medieval fantasy, through to urban fantasy. In this world, the people of Solace live under the mirrored rise of two small suns, which appear in their sky every morning. Bringing light to an otherwise dark wasteland. Reflecting this light and dark contrast of the environment in the visuals gave them a narrative anchor, enabling them to serve their purpose well.
This map uses a realistically scaled and functional topology map to give a better idea of the terrain.
Digital currency transfer concept animation.
I modelled, textured and simulated the wind in this 3D animation of Solace’s flag, using many procedural nodes in Blender to create things like the flag fabric texture. The only thing created outside of Blender was the flag design, which I created in Illustrator.
I’m really happy that I started this project. It’s given me the chance to think about how a narrative can inform visuals, taking small pieces of a story and building it out. Also, conversely, it’s shown how bringing something to life through imagery can change what you imagine when reading, which has been both important and fascinating for my writing!
Since I started this project, I’ve written several short stories within Solace, taking great inspiration from the style and city layouts I established. I’ve also been able to think about how currency works and how technology is used to interact with it.