OVERVIEW
This was for a class project where we had to reinterpret a space on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s campus to interpret either the past, present, or future of that space. This was a project aimed to explore the capabilities of AR. For this project we tested the capabilities of Adobe Aero (beta), and I was the only one that used Unity AR.
This AR experience reimagines Startling Whirlwind of Opportunity, blending Day of the Dead and Mexica heritage with interactive elements . Students can explore and honor the past in a playful, engaging way, connecting culutre with campus life.
ASSETS
I used Blender and Adobe Illustrator to create culturally significant assets within a tight timeline.
In Illustrator, I designed papel picado and key traditional graphics including temples, sugar skulls, golden sun motifs, and sacrificial altars. To work efficiently, I incorporated open-source icons for the Mexican eagle and cacti elements.
This streamlined approach allowed me to quickly build an authentic visual collection representing Day of the Dead and Aztec cultural elements for the AR experience.
The papel picador’s were placed into Unity and I applied the cloth element to them with simulated wind to add movement to the scene and alpha out the white within Unity.
For this AR project exploring Day of the Dead and Aztec memories, I created several symbolic assets that hold deep cultural significance.
Hummingbirds play an important role in both Aztec mythology and Day of the Dead traditions, often representing messengers between the living and the dead. I designed these in the style of alebrijes - the vibrant, fantastical Mexican folk art creatures traditionally made from papier-mâché or carved wood and painted in bright, intricate patterns. To achieve this authentic alebrije aesthetic while honoring the tradition, I texture painted directly onto the 3D models I created in Blender.
Monarch butterflies are another powerful symbol in Day of the Dead celebrations, believed to carry the spirits of deceased loved ones during their annual migration to Mexico. These butterflies represent the continuation of life and the cyclical nature of death and rebirth. I created these butterfly designs in Adobe Illustrator and then UV mapped them onto 3D models in Blender to bring them into the AR experience.
Both elements work together to create an immersive representation of Mexican cultural beliefs about death, memory, and the ongoing connection between the living and the departed.
The main asset for this project was the feathered serpent (Quetzalcoatl), a central deity in Aztec mythology representing the union of earth and sky, wisdom, and the wind. This powerful symbol was crucial to include as it embodies core aspects of Aztec spiritual beliefs.
I modeled the feathered serpent in Blender, drawing inspiration from ancient codex illustrations to maintain historical authenticity. Rather than creating a standalone model, I designed the serpent’s body to wrap around the existing structure, allowing it to complement and enhance the architecture rather than obscure it.
The texturing and optimization process presented significant challenges due to the project’s timeline constraints. I had to make multiple geometry cuts and adjustments to achieve the right balance between visual fidelity and performance requirements for the AR application. Despite these technical hurdles, the final asset successfully captures the majesty of this important cultural symbol while integrating seamlessly with the overall design.
