Birds
The challenge was to create a set of scenes in TouchDesigner that could be manipulated by an external controller. The topic was open-ended, so I went with bird-themed visuals. For my controller, I used a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con (left). With this project, I wanted to bring awareness to issues surrounding North American birds.
Process
I had to quickly come up with a concept, so I chose to create bird-related visuals because I am inspired by the aesthetics of birds. However, I was feeling stuck because the project was lacking meaning. On social media, I saw a video raising awareness about a proposed rule change to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Trump administration proposed to limit the interpretation of “harm” to mean actions that directly hurt animals and not the habitats they rely on, making it easier to use lands that endangered species inhabit. While doing research, I also found an article from The Washington Post that said 75% of North American bird species are decreasing. After learning about these issues, I wanted to use them to inform my visuals.
Nintendo Switch Joy-Con diagram for my project
All Scenes
In order to keep my project more organized, I made each scene into a “base,” which acts as a folder. Then, I connected the four different bases to a switch operator. When the user presses the side left (SL) button on the Joy-Con, it triggers the switch operator, which changes the particular base or scene being displayed.
Scene One
For the first scene, I created a red and black bitmap effect over two stock videos of flocks of birds. Since this is the first scene, I wanted to establish the avian theme of the project and create an unsettling feeling via the use of red. With the Joy-Con, users can switch between the videos, as well as change the lighting and intensity of the effect.
Scene Two
For the second scene, I decided to use text as the visual. I created a floating wall of text by repeating the word “harm” in bold letters. I added a glowy effect and fluid motion to make it more dynamic. The user can stretch and zoom in on the text, distorting it to mirror how the administration wanted to change the meaning of harm in the ESA.
Scene Three
For the third scene, I created a particle system that mimics a grainy film look. I used two videos of my own (emperor goose and little blue heron) and two stock videos (blue jay and dove); all of these birds can be found in North America. The user is able to cover three-quarters of the screen with a red overlay to represent how 75% of North American bird species are decreasing.
Scene Four
For the final scene, I used a 3D scan of a tree I created with an app called Scaniverse. The user is able to press a button that deconstructs the tree and then switch to another scene with a house. I included this 3D scan of a dollhouse to show how these natural habitats are being destroyed for reasons such as construction.
Results
I had to make a video showcasing my project and demonstrate how it works in front of my class. The presentation went smoothly and my controls worked. Although I initially struggled with the direction of my project, once I figured out the purpose behind my concept, I had more clarity in making the visuals.