Regarding the metaverse, is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Source of the article: Design Youth Public Name
ID：sjqn521
Author: Design Youth
Edit: Twins
Two days ago Zuckerberg announced that Facebook changed its name to Meta once again sent the term "metaverse Metaverse" to everyone's eyes, as the hottest word in the current technology industry, everyone may ask: What is the metaverse? What does it have to do with design?
After brushing up on the official conference of Meta and making up a circle of metaverse knowledge, various professional concepts and nouns seem to have less to do with the design we are currently in contact with, but the relationship between technology and design, technology and art, itself is on the verge of becoming more and more blurred. What's more, the metaverse carries more possibilities for future design and art. Therefore, as a designer, it is still necessary to understand the concept and application of the metacosm.
Metaverse scenes from the Meta conference
In the real world, everyone collects all kinds of favorite artworks and designs, so what kind of experience will this become in the metaverse? I believe that everyone must have heard of the hot word NFT, not to mention the reasoning does not understand, but the characteristics of NFT make it naturally have collection properties.
To understand NFT simply, it is a digital work, which can be JPG, PNG, MP3, MP4, etc., using the encryption of blockchain technology and has a copyright notice that cannot be tampered with privately. Let's start with a few high-priced NFT pieces:
《CryptoPunk》-Matt Hall & JohnWatkinson
The total sale price is more than $700 million
A series of 8-bit avatars, marking the birth of the NFT
《EVERYDAYS: THE FIRST 5000 DAYS》-Beeple
$69.34 million
A compilation of works by C4D digital artist Beeple for 5,000 consecutive days
《Nyan Cat》-Chris Torres
$590,000
A cute space cat GIF
Moreover, in the past two years, domestic NFTs have also developed rapidly, and both major enterprises and artists have begun to export their own NFT works.
Tencent celebrated its 23rd anniversary by distributing 72,000 commemorative NFT digital collections to its employees
Some time ago, the text gene project series of the Great Compassion Universe, "Beach with Poetry", started at Sotheby's for $100, went through 8 days of auction, and finally sold for $140,000, creating the history of China's digital art field.
Great Compassion Cosmic Text Gene Project Series "Beach with Poetry"
Screenshot of the work
Outside of the art world, NFTs are also emerging in the design world, and in April this year, TIME magazine made NFTs with the classic covers of 3 issues of the magazine in different periods, and finally bought them for $443,000. Previously, graphic designer Nie Yongzhen was invited to create an NFT magazine cover and make an 8s short film, which was finally sold for 570,000 yuan.
TIME magazine made an NFT with the classic cover of pure text of 3 issues of the magazine from different periods
"VOUGE" NFT cover
In addition, the transaction mode of NFT is open and transparent, and every time the NFT work changes hands, the creator can get a share, which is also a better point for the creator. However, it seems that the current NFT is still in the hands of these top streams, but under the ideal conditions of the premise, it is conceived that the future metacosm will take shape, and the NFT, as a tradable virtual asset, may also form a new economy.
What are the dress codes in the Metaverse? Maybe ask Balenciaga. Balenciaga, which has recently been frequently out of the circle with elements such as technology, digital and virtual, may be the first fashion brand to enter the meta-universe.
Meta asked on Twitter what the dress code for the Balenciaga metaverse was
This is the rhythm of the joint name
Two days ago, the spring 22 series of advertising campaigns released by Balenciaga was presented in the form of a virtual fashion show, switching between different time and space, which really made people imagine the dress-up experience of the future metaverse.
Balenciaga's latest image blockbuster for spring 2022
It is also full of future technology
In addition, games are considered the best vectors for the metaverse. Unlike traditional games, games under the metaverse concept will have a higher sense of immersion and freedom. Each player can have a new identity, through the creative tools provided by the platform, independently develop games in various forms and categories, the platform has its own economic system, players can socialize, and trade through virtual currency.
So in the game, architects can build houses, artists can hold exhibitions, costume designers can design clothes for characters... With no scripting, no positioning, and once the game starts, everything develops at the player's discretion. Combined with NFTs, creators can also sell clothing or other objects to others, so that the metaverse that truly has its own economic system is the metaverse.
Fortnite | Balenciaga co-branded game skin
The skins in the game are also sold in reality
In fact, in September this year, Balenciaga partnered with Epic Games' game product Fortnite (equivalent to the glory of kings), bringing a series of high-end fashion skins and props to gamers, and building a virtual store in the game to facilitate player procurement. Of course, in addition to Balenciaga, other luxury brands have also begun to enter the meta-universe.
LV's NFT mobile game: Louis: The Game
GUCCI's first NFT film: Aria
Zuckerberg claims that there are two very important basic elements in the metaverse: virtual avatars and personal space. As an interactive place connecting people and space, architects as builders have more possibilities in the metaverse.
The world's first VR meeting space designed by Space Popular
Everyone can choose their own avatar
Simulated speech scenario
Simulate the exhibition scene
Although we usually use 3D software to model, this is absolutely different from the virtual buildings of the metaverse, and whether it is interactive or not has become the biggest difference between the two. Of course, the function of the building will also change. For example, zuckerberg showed the metaverse scene at the press conference, when gathering and meeting, everyone may not need rooms, tables and chairs, but what everyone needs is the atmosphere.
Modeling software CityEngine
Block'hood game interface
Townscraper game interface
In addition, regardless of the realities such as technology, weather, cost, time, etc., virtual buildings may take on a new look. Maybe with just one line of code, we can see a whole new building and more people will be involved.
《Homesick》-Alexis Christodoulou
Artist Christodoulou sold his renderings as NFTs
Therefore, in Metaverse, architectural designers may not only need to draw architectural drawings, but also need to integrate expertise in multiple fields, and the work content will also integrate user interface design, interaction design, character design, and game design, which is a more diverse role.
Adobe launched 4 3D software this year
Software operation interface
The word seems a little too big, like talking about the Internet decades ago. Or when it comes to VR, NFT, virtual currency, blockchain, these words, each of which cannot be directly equated with the metaverse. Or in industries like architecture, fashion, and games mentioned above, the metacosm is a future that needs to be built together by various fields and technologies.
It doesn't matter if you don't understand it, it's very grand anyway
There are many concepts to define about the metacosm, or the metacosm itself is still a "concept", a concept that appeared in science fiction 29 years ago.
Andrés Reisinger's series of virtual furniture works
Reisinger was the first artist to sell virtual furniture in NFT form
Some people say that Metaverse is a virtual world that is parallel to the real world and always online, a more realistic virtual world.
Tsinghua University's team report defines the metacosm as a new internet application and social form that integrates a variety of new technologies, and allows each user to produce content and edit the world.
The Fabricant's virtual fashion show
The metaverse understanding that impressed Luo Yonghao in the first two days came from Shaan Puri: he believes that the metacosm is not a so-called space, but a "time", when our attention to the screen transitions from 50% to 90% or more, when our digital life is more important than physical life, it is the beginning of the metaverse.
Although we may not know what the metaverse is after reading it, it does not matter, we may all be in the process of the metaverse. At present, it can be said that UX, UI, animation, and 3D are all plates that are strongly related to the metaverse, and there will be more metaverse-specific designer job requirements in the future, which is definitely an interesting and advantageous field for designers, and those design skills in the real world will become indispensable tools to the virtual world.
So regarding the metaverse, is this a good thing or a bad thing?
To quote Shaan Puri: "Like all things, it is neither good nor bad, it is one thing, a very different thing." ”