Assignment 8: Modeling the Utopia

Most people associate the word Utopia with the future. However, in order to get to the future, we must get through the past. That is the basis for my 3D Modeling the Utopia project.

To elaborate, this project required us to use the 3D modeling program from Autodesk known as Maya. A bit more complex and tricky than Photoshop, Premiere, or any of the other tools we've used this semester. This was my first time using Maya, let alone any 3D modeling software, and there was a pretty steep learning curve.

Cultural Center

Once I got the hang of it, our instructor tasked us with creating a building that could live in our class utopia -- which is basically a collection of 2D maps that we all make individually, and bond together to create a city of sorts. For this first part, we could make any type of building we want. I decided to make a cultural center.

A cultural center is there to remind us of where our utopian citizens came from. A glimpse into the past, so to speak, but with a new twist. In this case I am channeling ancient Egypt and the mystical pyramids. Our utopia's cultural center has one of these pyramids, located on a protected, man-made island, and has an observatory built around it to allow a 360 degree view of pyramid beneath it. The surrounding observatory has windows cut out in the archways, and doors that open at the bottom of each support to allow our citizens to enter the structure and climb to the top.

Once our models were printed, we needed to trim them out and paint them. The colors I opted for was black for the structure, which shows sleekness and modernity. I then painted the pyramid silver, as to give it a bit of a futuristic sheen and mysteriousness. I also painted the undersides of the archways silver to create a contrast, and to reflect light back onto the pyramid.

Stadium

Once our first models were returned to us, we were asked to make a second model. We gathered as a class, looked at the 3D models that were made in the first round, and generated ideas for what needed to be created next. After the list was created, we selected which building we wanted to create, and then we were set free to do so. The second model I selected was a stadium, which I feel would still exist in our utopia to bring entertainment to the masses.

Sticking with the theme of the past influencing the future, I modeled my stadium as a mix between the ancient Roman Colosseum on the inside -- where gladiators would fight to the death -- with an attached modern parking structure. Fortunately or unfortunately, transportation is still required in our utopia, so for a venue as large as a stadium, people would need a place to park their cars. When it comes to painting, I opted for more silver than black this time, because in our utopia, instead of concrete, our structures will be made of reflective surfaces that double as solar energy panels to be self-sustainable. It also looks futuristic.

2D Map

Lastly, we were tasked with creating a 2D map square for our models to live on. We were given a website known as Snazzy Maps, which is basically just recolored Google maps, to pull inspiration from. The map theme that I felt best resembled the world my models would live on is called Golden Crown. The map therefore uses shades of gold and black, which I felt was fitting for pyramids and colosseums. In my map, I designed roads that lead in (because people need to get there), and designated areas for forestry. However it is not the type of forestry like great, green pines -- but rather dense sagebrush and cacti. There is also the man made island that the cultural center will exist on -- both to protect it, and to create a separation from the rest of the land. A path of water surrounds it, which doubles as a visitor attraction for swimmers.

With that in mind, the map is labeled with standard cartography symbols to help visitors identify the land structures. The symbols include the dense vegetation/forestry area to the east, a fountain leading into the stadium, the swimming area outside of the cultural center, and a public transportation bus stop where all the roads converge. Lastly, the roads are highlighted, with convenient exits/entrances to the north, east and west connecting maps. There is also uncovered parking on the island with the cultural center, and a bridge leading in.

Overall, my part of the utopia is all designed this way to still be functional, and to exist in a believable way. It is not meant to be so far into the future that it is unrecognizable to us, but rather, we could see this as an identifiable and relatable place that would exist in a utopia made years from now.

Bringing it Together

On the final day of class, everyone brought their finished 3D models and 2D map together. There was no real collaborating in advance on the positioning of the map pieces, so we needed to figure it out on the spot.

Some of the maps worked well together, with a coastline and rivers. I was the only desert-based map, so my map was sort of exiled from the main collective on the outskirts of town. This worked out pretty well though. Maybe the future utopia won't have room for the past?

Either way, the final result looked great. No two people had the same style of building, and this gave everyone a chance to be creative. It was great to see the variety. You can see the final, printed results below.