Lauren Watley
portfolio · Design Work

Projects

  • Lane Medical Library
  • Winter Sleigh Ride
  • Hydrogenessa
  • Bloomeggio
  • Hue Vine Snakes

Conference & Publications

  • ICEMT
  • WGEA

Socials

  • linkedin 
  • contra 

Code

  • github

Work

  • Stanford EdTech
get in touch

3D · Character · Spline

Hydrogenessa

Name of a surreal/sci-fi inspired 3D character world experience.

Prototype WIP work in progress.

Open on Spline in a new tab →

If the embed fails to load, use the force reload method on your device or the new-tab link—some networks restrict third-party WebGL iframes.

The name brings together hydro, from the Greek hydōr, meaning water, and Genessa, a name I was drawn to for its association with the word genesis: origin, creation, and beginnings. Together, they gave this world a name that feels part elemental, part invented, and part otherworldly.

Hydrogenessa is designed as a small audiovisual world you move through rather than simply observe. When the player character walks, the soundscape moves with them; when they stop, it stops too. The ambient, rhythmic composition unfolds over time, so the full sound experience only reveals itself by continuing to walk, explore, and move through the space. Click anywhere in the environment to shift its surrounding color fields, changing the atmosphere as you explore. Click on the character to change who you play. For now, you can traverse the space and climb a large insect-like structure. I plan to continue expanding Hydrogenessa with new environments, structures, and places for more encounters to happen :)


Project specifications

Type Interactive 3D character scene
Role Art direction, 3D interaction, Composer
Platform Spline web player
Theme World building, Game design, Sci-Fi

Technologies

Spline Materials & lighting WebGL Mixamo

Highlights

  • Developed the name and visual identity around ideas of water, origins, transformation, and imagined futures
  • Leveraged and augmented Mixamo characters and custom animations to fit the environment and character identies