Shipped educational VR simulations on cellular biology for middle school students guiding them to build and dissect living cells, control the stages of mitosis, specialize their cells, and more.
Research Labs: CREATE Lab, Future Reality Lab NYU
Client/Funder: Verizon
My contributions:
3D design, animations, technical art (materials, shaders, particles), Blueprints (UE4), UI and interaction design
A virtual classroom full of futuristic technology to deliver the most engaging educational simulations. I was responsible for all the 3D asset production (modelling, UVs, PBR texturing and materials).
I optimized draw calls by baking details into textures, creating LODs, using dithered transparency, and using material instances for efficient rendering.
Whether that be manipulating an organelle, flattening the entire cell, or dissolving a membrane - I used different tools to create interactive animations and visuals. Each interaction required different approaches to achieve the desired outcome.
Blueprints in Unreal Engine allowed me to prototype quickly. I was able to control material parameters programmatically, make level design tools, add interactivity to menus, cast events from the simulation controller, and more.
These contextual tools allowed players to build and manipulate the cells in different ways. They include spray bottle, vacuum gun, splatoon gun and wrist watch.