RIT Beyond Fashion 2023
Beyond Fashion is an annual fashion show hosted at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), providing a platform for students and designers to exhibit their innovative work. For the 2023 show the Beyond Fashion team partnered with the New Media Design motion graphics class for all the visuals and I aided my program lead Jason Arena in getting everything working.
Role
Production Manager
Year
Winter 2023
Tools
Resolume, QLab, and AfterEffects
Project Overview:
Beyond Fashion is an annual fashion show hosted at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), providing a platform for students and designers to exhibit their innovative work. In the fall of 2023, I had the privilege to contribute significantly to the visual production of this event. Working in collaboration with my motion graphics class and the Beyond Fashion team, I was involved in various aspects of the project, from managing video content to creating an interactive art installation, and show calling the event.
Objectives:
The primary goal was to create a visually captivating and interactive environment that complemented the innovative fashion designs being showcased with the theme "The Grid".
There were a series of different fashion designers and the motion graphics class split up into various groups in order to create visual assets that complemented their works. Each group had to be taught how to VJ and understand the parameters for designing on a large LED volume.
I was also apart of a group tasked with creating an interactive installation. We were presented with a series of heller cubes and were tasked in designing an installation to pay homage to Massimo Vignelli.
Technical Implementation:
Resolume: For the runway show and installation all live composites and projection mapping were created using Resolume, allowing for precise control and synchronization of the visual elements.
Touch Designer: The interactive elements were built using Touch Designer, enabling real-time motion tracking and dynamic visual responses to user interactions.
Here, I outlined a rough guideline for where the projectors needed to be hung to effectively cover the cubes. Our design evolved based on the technical and physical constraints we encountered. As a result, we successfully completed the projection-mapped slices.
Challenges and Solutions:
One of the main challenges was ensuring seamless integration of video content and interactive elements with the live fashion show. This required detailed planning and coordination with the design and technical teams. Rigorous testing and optimization processes were implemented to ensure all visual components were synchronized and responsive. It was a great learning experience getting to aid my classmates in displayed the content that they created with their artist.
We were also working under a very tight timeline for the show. Although assets were created in advance, most of the testing couldn’t be done until two days before. Additionally, we couldn’t finalize the installation until the day before the show because the projection-mapped slices kept changing, and we didn’t have access to the space to position all the cubes, as they were so large. It felt like a guessing game until the very last minute, but we managed to pull everything together just in time.
I also took the lead in orienting my peers with the parameters of working on the LED volume. With a large pixel pitch, the wall wasn’t even 1080p, meaning they had to scale back on resolution. In addition to that, the display was genlocked at 24 FPS, so this had to be accounted for when creating graphics. Another challenge was color rendition, as the LED wall wasn’t the most color accurate. We had to factor all of this in when designing graphics to ensure they looked as good as possible for the artist. To help, I created an After Effects template for my class, making it easier for everyone to understand these limitations and optimize their work accordingly.
Role and Responsibilities:
Video Content Management: I managed all video content displayed on the LED volume, ensuring synchronization with the show's narrative and aesthetics.
Asset Design Collaboration: I guided and supported multiple groups in designing visual assets for the show, working to ensure a cohesive visual presentation.
Interactive Projection-Mapped Installation: Partnering with Alexa Contreras, Alexis Mildren, Farah Ahamed, and Lily Kniseley, we created an interactive art installation. Users could interact with the installation via a camera, with their motions altering the displayed assets in real-time.
Show Calling: Made sure I was in sync with the producer and audio team in order to manage all the artist transitions in a timely manner.
Installation:
The interactive projection-mapped installation was a standout feature, allowing users to engage directly with the visuals. As users approached the camera, their movements triggered changes in the displayed assets, creating a personalized and immersive experience. The feedback from the audience was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the installation's originality and engagement.