Interactive Project: Stellar

We decided to use the name stellar as it is short and snappy, making it more memorable. The word stellar relates to stars, therefore is relevant for this project.

The finalised logo which I came up with features a large S, which is stylised to represent the shape of the milky way. This is relevant for the space theme of Stellar. I thought that the font used was quite futuristic and the star further helped convey the concept. I really like the outcome of the logo as I think it looks quite sleek. I created both a long and short version of the logo, to use on different types of promotional content, and also experimented with gradients to add a more futuristic, metalic effect.

Another logo idea I came up with features an astronaut helmet with a graduation cap on top, to represent how Stellar is an educational space game.

Since the name Stellar doesn’t really allude to the educational aspects, I wanted to ensure that the tagline did this instead. The word intergalactic make it seem more exciting, whilst the words learning experience denote the purpose of Stellar.

I animated the logo to use in the advert. I achieved this using the stroke effect on After Effects. I think that it is quite a sleek animation which looks professional. I later decided to create a fire effect inside the logo, to represent a spaceship taking off. I utilised the particle effects in order to do this. I think that this adds more depth to the final outcome, which I like.

I designed an astronaut to use in the promotional content for this project. I used this as an opportunity to become more confident using Adobe Illustrator, as I usually stick to using Photoshop. I designed the astronaut using the shape tools, and then adjusting the anchor points to edit the shape. I initially started with a more simplistic design, however then decided to experiment using the gradient tool, which enabled me to create a more detailed, 3D looking astronaut. I also designed a scholars/graduation hat to represent how this is an educational experience. I am extremely happy with the outcome of this character as I like the smooth, shiny finish created by the gradients.

I also decided to design a rocket to include in my promotional material. I went for a simple, cartoony style which stands out and is easily recognisable, in order to communicate Stellars concept.

I put together the spaceman, rocket and logo in order to create this poster. I experimented with different logo placements as well as blurring the background. I like the outcome of this poster. I think that I have made effective use of the space, by filling it with large images, which stand out. I think it could however be improved by adding more detail into the background.

I created this poster using Photoshop. I used 3D assets created by my group members (spaceship and Earth), in order to create this poster. I started by adding a glow around the earth to make its shape more prominent and add detail to the lighting effects. I warped the logo to bend around the earth and added a shadow, creating a 3D effect. Using the paintbrush tool, I drew a smoke trail coming from the rocket. I experimented with different sizes for this. I think that this looks quite realistic. I used the lens flare tool to create the additional stars in the background. I really like how this poster turned out. This is because the concept is simple however effectively represents what Stellar is and does.

Using Adobe Character Animator and After Effects, I was able to animate the astronaut character, to make it seem like they are floating in space. I used a 3D render from one of my team members to use as the space background and I think that this worked really well. I did this as I wanted to include the astronaut, which I designed, in my advert.

I used Premier Pro to create this advert. I made use of 3D renders created by my group members. I wanted to achieve a cinematic style, therefore I used lots of fades to black to transition between scenes. I also used lots of panning shots and slowed them down to do this. I downloaded free sound effects/music online and put them together to create the soundtrack. The combination of the voiceover and music helps to create this cinematic effect. I included typography to provide some more information about Stellar, whilst not giving to much away. This was in attempt to make the audience want to know more. I included an animated logo at the end to establish a sense of brand identity. I wanted to focus on the narrative of the rocket taking off and flying into space, to emphasise the experience of playing Stellar. I found that working on this advert was a good way to improve my video editing skills.

I experimented with several different designs for information boxes to include in the game.

This rocket interior was created using Adobe Illustrator. I decided to go for a simplistic vector style. I later animated the background and added a free audio file which I found. I did this Using After Effects. I really like how this turned out. I think the design is eye catching and the animation makes it more entertaining. I initially planned to use this for my advert, however later decided to go with a different idea.