Planetary Colony Design Project
Project: Futuristic City Design
Objective:
Create a conceptual, sci-fi-inspired city that blurs the line between imagination and reality, using innovative thinking, research, and advanced 3D modelling tools. This project should be an artistic exploration of speculative architecture, surreal landscapes, and avant-garde urban environments, balancing functionality with striking visual storytelling.
Key Focus Areas:
Objective:
Create a conceptual, sci-fi-inspired city that blurs the line between imagination and reality, using innovative thinking, research, and advanced 3D modelling tools. This project should be an artistic exploration of speculative architecture, surreal landscapes, and avant-garde urban environments, balancing functionality with striking visual storytelling.
Key Focus Areas:
- Conceptual Thinking: Push the boundaries of design with bold, unconventional ideas. Consider how future societies might evolve, and how artistic interpretation can shape futuristic cityscapes.
- Sci-Fi Influence: Infuse your city with artistic narratives—think cyberpunk metropolises, utopian floating cities, or sleek, interplanetary colonies. Consider how technology, artificial intelligence, and advanced materials will alter the fabric of urban life.
- Functionality & Form: While heavily artistic, your city should maintain a sense of coherence, where abstract creativity meets intelligent design principles. Imagine a world where artistic vision leads to innovation design thinking.
Stage 1: Research & Inspiration
Begin by exploring how futuristic cities and sci-fi environments are envisioned across various media, including films, games, and concept art. Look at examples such as WALL-E, The Martian, Star Wars, and No Man’s Sky, as well as visually stunning worlds from films like Blade Runner 2049, Tron: Legacy, and Black Panther.
Dive into comic book universes that showcase imaginative cityscapes, such as the advanced Wakanda (Black Panther), the cyberpunk-inspired Neo-Tokyo (Akira), or the towering mega-city of Judge Dredd. Consider how futuristic settings are depicted in graphic novels like Metropolis or Transmetropolitan.
Gather a collection of images, color palettes, textures, and key descriptive words that resonate with your creative vision. Consider the overall mood and theme you want to convey.
This phase lays the groundwork for a strong visual and thematic identity in your design.
Deliverable: A curated inspiration board featuring 8–12 annotated images that highlight key artistic and conceptual influences
Begin by exploring how futuristic cities and sci-fi environments are envisioned across various media, including films, games, and concept art. Look at examples such as WALL-E, The Martian, Star Wars, and No Man’s Sky, as well as visually stunning worlds from films like Blade Runner 2049, Tron: Legacy, and Black Panther.
Dive into comic book universes that showcase imaginative cityscapes, such as the advanced Wakanda (Black Panther), the cyberpunk-inspired Neo-Tokyo (Akira), or the towering mega-city of Judge Dredd. Consider how futuristic settings are depicted in graphic novels like Metropolis or Transmetropolitan.
Gather a collection of images, color palettes, textures, and key descriptive words that resonate with your creative vision. Consider the overall mood and theme you want to convey.
This phase lays the groundwork for a strong visual and thematic identity in your design.
Deliverable: A curated inspiration board featuring 8–12 annotated images that highlight key artistic and conceptual influences
Stage 2: World Context & Futuristic City Concept
Write a short description of your futuristic city, by considering the following questions:
What is its purpose (e.g., technological hub, scientific research, interstellar trade)?
Who inhabits this city? Are they humans, AI entities, extraterrestrial beings, or a mix of cultures and species?
What makes this place unique or challenging—extreme environments, innovative infrastructure, or a distinct societal structure?
Think about the overarching story, emotions, and atmosphere behind your city. Is it a utopia of advanced civilization, a gritty cyberpunk metropolis, or a surreal dreamscape of futuristic architecture?
This step helps define the background and personality of your design.
Deliverable: A one-page/ paragraph written concept statement, accompanied by supporting images, keywords, or diagrams to visually represent the essence of your city.
Write a short description of your futuristic city, by considering the following questions:
What is its purpose (e.g., technological hub, scientific research, interstellar trade)?
Who inhabits this city? Are they humans, AI entities, extraterrestrial beings, or a mix of cultures and species?
What makes this place unique or challenging—extreme environments, innovative infrastructure, or a distinct societal structure?
Think about the overarching story, emotions, and atmosphere behind your city. Is it a utopia of advanced civilization, a gritty cyberpunk metropolis, or a surreal dreamscape of futuristic architecture?
This step helps define the background and personality of your design.
Deliverable: A one-page/ paragraph written concept statement, accompanied by supporting images, keywords, or diagrams to visually represent the essence of your city.
Stage 3: Concept Development
Visual Exploration, Sketching, Spatial Design & Layout Plan
Begin mapping out your futuristic city by creating a simple layout plan. Consider the placement of key districts, transportation systems, and major landmarks.
Deliverable: One detailed map with labeled components and movement paths, plus eight annotated sketches showcasing various structures, layouts, and conceptual elements.
Visual Exploration, Sketching, Spatial Design & Layout Plan
Begin mapping out your futuristic city by creating a simple layout plan. Consider the placement of key districts, transportation systems, and major landmarks.
- City Layout: Design a map that reflects the organization of your futuristic city. Label important areas such as residential zones, research centers, commercial hubs, or entertainment districts.
- Movement & Interaction: Show how people, vehicles, or advanced technology navigate through the city. Consider pathways, airways, or even innovative transit systems.
- Architectural Sketches: Start sketching essential structures—think towering skyscrapers, floating platforms, interconnected megastructures, or energy-efficient habitats. Explore architectural forms that reinforce your city’s story and function.
- Material & Design Exploration: Experiment with textures, materials, and layouts inspired by your city’s world-building.
Deliverable: One detailed map with labeled components and movement paths, plus eight annotated sketches showcasing various structures, layouts, and conceptual elements.
In-Class Activities for Generating Sketching Concepts and Simplifying References into Geometric Shapes.
Super loose sketches created while watching a show on TV...
Stage 4: 3D Blockout
- Use a basic 3D tool such as Blender to block out your design.
- Focus on big shapes and spatial relationships, not details.
- Think about how it would feel to walk through your colony.
- Deliverable: One slide with all your buildings lined up in orthographic as well as perspective.
- 8-12 Vistas: Renderers or Screenshots of your 3D model from different angles, incorporating my sci-fi like settings within Blender.
Stage 5: 3D Modelling
- Build your city in 3D/ Blender.
- Focus on key landmarks or city zones.
- Deliverable: 4-8 Screenshots of your 3D model.
Stage 6: Rendering & Final Images
Stage 7: Final Presentation
Optional: Stage 8 - Reflection & Peer Feedback
- Render images of your city with lighting and color.
- Show multiple angles and enticing point of views (Vistas), add details to your constructs, bring your environment to life.
- Deliverable: 8-12 rendered images.
Stage 7: Final Presentation
- Include all the above stages.
- Deliverable: Put together a Google Slides process package.
Optional: Stage 8 - Reflection & Peer Feedback
- Reflect on your experience: What went well? What would you improve?
- Give and receive feedback on each other’s designs.
- Deliverable: One-paragraph reflection.
