Educational Simulations in Second Life for Fashion Technology Students Elaine Polvinen, M.F.A., Professor Buffalo State College [email_address] SLCC 2007

In the Beginning… Scepticism Doubt Educational Inquisitiveness Curiosity … Where would it all lead?

Scepticism

Doubt

Educational Inquisitiveness

Curiosity

… Where would it all lead?

Background Part of a larger campus-wide project. Sponsored by SUNY Research Foundation 1/07. Educational island purchased 2/07. Campus pilot group started to support individual SL explorers and inform campus.

Part of a larger campus-wide project.

Sponsored by SUNY Research Foundation 1/07.

Educational island purchased 2/07.

Campus pilot group started to support individual SL explorers and inform campus.

The Virtual Fashion Project When? How long? What was the primary purpose? What is the VF Project? What applications are used for the project? What are the project goals?

When?

How long?

What was the primary purpose?

What is the VF Project?

What applications are used for the project?

What are the project goals?

The Virtual Fashion Project Goals summarized are to: - introduce fashion students with working and collaborating on various aspects of a fashion product development project in a 3D virtual reality setting. Detailed listing of project goals on http:// www.bscsecondlife.info /

- introduce fashion students with working and collaborating on various aspects of a fashion product development project in a 3D virtual reality setting.

The Process - To begin in SL Sign on Create an avatar Navigate on land and air. Teleport Review inventory Change Appearance Play with Gestures

Sign on

Create an avatar

Navigate on land and air.

Teleport

Review inventory

Change Appearance

Play with Gestures

The Process Create first new outfit in Appearance Play with poseballs Pose avatar Take snapshot Remove background in Adobe PS. Upload to ANGEL drop box.

Create first new outfit in Appearance

Play with poseballs

Pose avatar

Take snapshot

Remove background in Adobe PS.

Upload to ANGEL drop box.

Meet the Students in SL

The Process First T-Shirt Project Robin Wood’s Tutorial & Template Use design from previous class assignments Upload to SL Wear and Save new shirt in Appearance Pose avatar at poseballs Take snapshot Remove background in Adobe PS. Upload posed snapshot to SL.

First T-Shirt Project

Robin Wood’s Tutorial & Template

Use design from previous class assignments

Upload to SL

Wear and Save new shirt in Appearance

Pose avatar at poseballs

Take snapshot

Remove background in Adobe PS.

Upload posed snapshot to SL.

First T-Shirt Project in SL

The Project Process Fiber Design Students Prepare and upload Fiber Design student textures. Fashion students place textures in their inventory and incorporate them into their outfits.

Fiber Design Students

Prepare and upload Fiber Design student textures.

Fashion students place textures in their inventory and incorporate them into their outfits.

The Project Process Additional Outfits were developed from Uploaded : textures Robin Wood’s UV Templates

Additional Outfits were developed from Uploaded :

textures

Robin Wood’s UV Templates

The Project Process - Virtual Fashion PRO®. Intro to VF Pro Step by step projects in class to learn application. Each student developed 3 Fashion Layouts Original garment Original seamless texture

Intro to VF Pro

Step by step projects in class to learn application.

Each student developed 3 Fashion Layouts

Original garment

Original seamless texture

The Project Process – Build Presentation Packages Each box contained the items that were organized in an inventory Fashion Folder. Items were named by: Designer name Fashion item name Style Number All permissions opened on every garment and texture.

Each box contained the items that were organized in an inventory Fashion Folder. Items were named by:

Designer name

Fashion item name

Style Number

All permissions opened on every garment and texture.

The Project Process – Vendor Exhibit Preparation of exhibit vendors Go to NCI [New Citizens Incorporated] Get Jim Wheeler’s MGV vendors Customize them with textures and fashion poses. Add fashion outfits to vendor. Adjust vendor script and hover text. Build and set-up Designer Logo Open permissions.

Preparation of exhibit vendors

Go to NCI [New Citizens Incorporated]

Get Jim Wheeler’s MGV vendors

Customize them with textures and fashion poses.

Add fashion outfits to vendor.

Adjust vendor script and hover text.

Build and set-up Designer Logo

Open permissions.

The Project Process – The Fashion Show Creation of Runway Props Music Lights Develop backdrop Logo Animation Overrider for modeling Rehearsal Test Videos

Creation of Runway

Props

Music

Lights

Develop backdrop Logo

Animation Overrider for modeling

Rehearsal

Test Videos

The Project Process – The Fashion Show Video Students completed it either as a team Individual All student videos can be viewed at http://www.bscsecondlife.info/ Select Fashion Project>SLCC 2007

Students completed it either

as a team

Individual

The Project Process - ANGEL ANGEL used for: Resources Links Assignments How to details Drop boxes

ANGEL used for:

Resources

Links

Assignments

How to details

Drop boxes

Learning Outcomes The following skills in a virtual environment: Organizational Creative thinking Visual communication Multi-tasking Creative problem solving Collaborative Technology Presentation Market trend research skills

The following skills in a virtual environment:

Organizational

Creative thinking

Visual communication

Multi-tasking

Creative problem solving

Collaborative

Technology

Presentation

Market trend research skills

Learning Outcomes Students gained experience and introductory skills with: linking existing 2D concepts with new 3D concepts. multiple techniques for virtual fashion garment development, presentation and product packaging development of a virtual fashion exhibit; virtual fashion show production and presentation.

Students gained experience and introductory skills with:

linking existing 2D concepts with new 3D concepts.

multiple techniques for virtual fashion garment development, presentation and product packaging

development of a virtual fashion exhibit; virtual fashion show production and presentation.

Feedback None of the students had ever experienced a virtual environment before. The majority never heard of SL or were familiar with the term “avatar.” The majority thought SL was difficult to learn at first.

None of the students had ever experienced a virtual environment before.

The majority never heard of SL or were familiar with the term “avatar.”

The majority thought SL was difficult to learn at first.

Feedback What they liked: Most of the students really liked walking, flying, working with the Appearance menu and thought that uploading files was easy. They all really liked making the fashion show video and working in Virtual Fashion PRO. What they found difficult… Organizational skills Permissions Script modification Building

What they liked:

Most of the students really liked walking,

flying, working with the Appearance menu

and thought that uploading files was easy.

They all really liked making the fashion show

video and working in Virtual Fashion PRO.

What they found difficult…

Organizational skills

Permissions

Script modification

Building

Conclusion multiple aspects of fashion design, development, merchandising, advertising and promotion can benefit from developing custom project simulations in the virtual world. fashion show fashion product design, development and presentation. store layout and design

multiple aspects of fashion design, development, merchandising, advertising and promotion can benefit from developing custom project simulations in the virtual world.

fashion show

fashion product design, development and presentation.

store layout and design

Second Life What does it provide for fashion students? the advantage of gaining a specialized conceptual skill set from working in a 3D virtual reality environment that is free to access. This open source virtual world will begin to prepare students for emerging employer expectations relating to 3D conceptualization.

What does it provide for fashion students?

the advantage of gaining a specialized conceptual skill set from working in a 3D virtual reality environment that is free to access.

This open source virtual world will begin to prepare students for emerging employer expectations relating to 3D conceptualization.

Second Life What does it provide for fashion education? It provides programs with the tools to teach students a specialized (fashion) conceptual skill set from working in a 3D virtual reality environment that is free and open access for all programs.

What does it provide for fashion education?

It provides programs with the tools to teach students a specialized (fashion) conceptual skill set from working in a 3D virtual reality environment that is free and open access for all programs.

Second Life is… - an Ideal platform for development of: long distance collaborations with fashion students and faculty from all over the world. international virtual coursework.

- an Ideal platform for development of:

long distance collaborations with fashion students and faculty from all over the world.

international virtual coursework.

The Next Phase: Fall 2007 Development of more intermediate teaching materials. Addition of Poser for expanded virtual experience. Secondary phase goals for SL and VF PRO®. include more advanced garment development and show production.

Development of more intermediate teaching materials.

Addition of Poser for expanded virtual experience.

Secondary phase goals for SL and VF PRO®. include more advanced garment development and show production.

The Next Phase: Spring 2008 Introduce the introductory project again. Dream goal Extend this project to network with other fashion institutions.

Introduce the introductory project again.

Dream goal

Extend this project to network with other fashion institutions.

Visit the Virtual Fashion Exhibit in SL To visit the student exhibit in SL join the SUNY Buffalo State Guests group. Once you have joined the group search for Buffalo State region on the map and teleport over.

To visit the student exhibit in SL join the SUNY Buffalo State Guests group. Once you have joined the group search for Buffalo State region on the map and teleport over.

Thank you Finn1 Flintlock Project WIKI http://www.bscsecondlife.info/ Select FASHION PROJECT>SLCC 2007

Finn1 Flintlock