04

THE FOSSIL OF MOTION

|Motion Capture HTC Vive Controller - Data Redesign|

Muwen Li | Yetong Xin | Chenghao He

Harvard Graduate School of Design | M.Des Mediums

|Year|

Fall 2023

|Advisor|

Jose Luis García del Castillo y López

|Category|

Computational Design | CG Motion Capture
Role Designer/Coder/Editor

|Exhibition|

Harvard Graduate School of Design Piper Auditorium

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To Watch VIMEO of Collective Joy | Collective Misery

Simulating the Creature from the Motion

This project draws inspiration from the varied collection of animal specimens and fossils housed within the cabinets of the Harvard Museum. The inorganic nature of these specimens, contained within chilled glass cabinets, functions as simulated representations of authentic organic entities, thereby engendering a semblance of reality that is inherently absent.

LEFT| Motion Capture Render Test 1
RIGHT| Motion Capture Render Test 3

From Step [0] to Step [5]

The steps delineate the cognitive progression encompassing motion capture and culminating in the generation of the final form.

In this project, we employ inorganic motion trajectory data to produce faithful replicas of organic fossils, elucidating the intricate interplay between inorganic and organic elements. Utilizing HTC Vive controllers, we delineate the fundamental structural curves of marine organism skeletons, while algorithmic modeling is employed to restore the creatures' skin texture, ensuring an accurate recreation of organic entities.

Render scene | 01

Render scene | 02

Render scene | 03

Render scene | 04

The Grasshopper and C# code | Pufferfish

Within Grasshopper, the Pufferfish plug-in plays a pivotal role in extending the scope of parametric modeling. The integration of C# code further refines and customizes the design logic, allowing for a more tailored and sophisticated approach. The utilization of Pufferfish's features facilitates intricate operations, contributing to the overall intricacy and precision of the parametric design.

This project seeks to explore the intricate interplay between inorganic and organic elements, as well as the dynamic between reality and simulation. By doing so, it endeavors to provide a novel perspective for contemplation, prompting a reevaluation of our understanding of the perceived world.