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Charlit Floriano 

MA 3D Animation

My name is Charlit (Sh-are-lit) and I am a 2D/3D artist based out of so-called Canada. My work continues to change as I navigate the intersections between 2D image-making and the constant advancement of 3D, however communicating emotion through tone and style will always be the top priority ✿ The past few years I have worked in the animation industry as a texturing artist, hybrid asset lead, assistant art director, matte painter and lighting artist- as well as pursuing freelance, workshop facilitation and personal projects.

This film outlines my research theorizing the advantages of using stylized avatars in Social VR, how design can impact user behaviour and the current application of anime and hyper-sexualized avatars in VRchat. MUSIC Connor Jessome VOICE OVER Meishang
It walks through the design process of my custom avatar and explores the implications of character design when applied to embodied social experiences.
Scott McCloud's "Understanding Comics", Jessica Outlaw's research in social VR and Legacy Russel's book "Glitch Feminism" are the primary resources for this project. Each brought a different perspective to this question of what bodies can look like in virtual space.
The social and cultural factors that exist in our society AFK (away from keyboard) impact our relationships with virtual bodies. How can design be used to encourage pro-social behaviour and a feeling of safety without moderation of user-generated content?
Understanding Virtual Bodies: A Case for the Use of Simple & Stylized Avatars in Social VR

The Social Virtual Reality platform VRchat allows users to upload custom avatars, creating digital bodies that interact with virtual worlds and people in 3D space. My research theorizes the advantages of using stylized avatars in Social VR, how design can impact user behaviour and the current application of anime and hyper-sexualized avatars in VRchat. I then designed a custom avatar that utilizes simplified features and shape to explore a feminine identity that subverts the expectations of the "e-girl". It successfully challenged other users' ideas of what is “normal” in VRchat, but I would like to more thoroughly investigate the impact it may be having on behaviour long-term. Character design is a powerful tool in communicating culture, values and identity. When character design is applied to embodied experiences, like social VR, every choice has the potential to impact a user's individual experience as well as the culture.


Diversifying Fem & NB Avatars PDF Avatar Design Package PDF
3D Animation
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