The 3D design process — from an idea to the final product
Idea
The goal was to create custom 3D scenes. Much like our other projects, we made a unique solution that would perfectly fit the client, in this case, Spacecadet Ventures.
When creating the branding for Spacecadet Ventures we analyzed how the brand feels through various graphic materials. Our goal was to see the different ways in which we could scale the brand while still having a clear distinction of their identity.
Inspiration
We took inspiration from a variety of sources, most of them (naturally) being space-themed: space movies and space pop culture. One of our main inspirations was the movie Interstellar. The film features a robot that has a fully metallic surface. We were inspired by the material so we created metallic elements for some of the designs for Spacecadet Ventures. We wanted to convey a worn look throughout the whole project, so the use of blemished metal surfaces was our best option, and it fit with the overall space aesthetic. The robot has no curves and is very angular, this was another element that we incorporated into our design. The angular design represents the accuracy and clarity of the brand.
Furthermore, the robot in the movie finds itself on a planet that’s covered with water, so it has drops of water across its hull. Likewise, our design features droplets of water and the surface imperfections caused by them. After applying the water elements, we realized that we could go a step further, and being inspired by Ridley Scott’s Alien, we implemented a sort of acid-damaged look on the metallic surfaces.
Another movie that proved to be a large source of inspiration for us is 2001: A Space Odyssey. It’s fascinating that a movie that came out in 1968 still serves as inspiration for contemporary space-related content. The ambiance and interior design caught our attention the most, so we implemented a variety of similar elements in some of our renders.
Concepts
The concepts for all the unique elements that can be seen in a 3D environment were made with mood boards. The use of mood boards made it much easier to organize all our sources of inspiration and some little details that we extracted from movies and such. From a written idea to visual inspiration to initial mockups, everything was documented in the mood board.
We made multiple variations of every type of visual, until we got a satisfying result. There were some concepts that didn’t end up in the final execution but they were useful nevertheless, as they gave inspiration to other ideas which did end up in the final renders.
This process proved to be very effective when we made the sticker concepts, first we imagined what they would look like if they were new. Then we put them into the context of the rest of the design and we added some imperfections to them, to make them seem like they were there for a long time.
Stages
After thorough researching, creating, and organizing the elements that we wanted to use, we began crafting the renders. As we added the various layers, our vision started to come to life. We had to take into consideration the lighting when creating this scene, as outer space is dark we went for a dark atmosphere in this shot. Metallic surfaces are highly reflective and they clearly show marks and blemishes, so we could add a variety of imperfections freely.
Seeing all the pieces fit together into a seamless end product was highly satisfying. We’re sharing this so that you can experience the feeling with us and that you get some insight into the processes that are required to make a visually pleasing shot like this.
Final product
Because of the choice and presentation of the materials, the final solution has the look and feel of being in space. The feeling is further emphasized with the unnatural motion and positioning that can only be achieved in zero-G (and with 3D animation, of course)