The Infinite Digital Fashion Show
Allow us to introduce Michal Mierzejewski, also known as CORENICK, a visionary creative head, motion designer, 3D animation virtuoso and new media advocate. He spearheaded the design of the groundbreaking Lens That project: The Infinite Digital Fashion Show. Rather than simply presenting the video and expecting you to dive in, we’ve opted to illuminate the intricacies of the creative process behind this project. The concept can be summed up in one compelling phrase: “the more you watch, the more you discover.” Doesn’t that sound like the recipe for a decent film? We certainly think so. Feel invited to get to know CORENICK and the latest creation of ours.
THE SCENERY
Why the scenery? The stairwell concept looks looks familiar.
While brainstorming the ideal scenery for showcasing digital fashion items, the Relativity artwork by M. C. Escher emerged as a compelling muse. The mesmerizing optical illusion, where gravity appears to defy conventional laws, presented an ideal backdrop for showcasing fashion items of the future. Within this surreal environment, a harmonious array of casual attire coexists, each with its own distinct functionality yet sharing a cohesive aesthetic. These items live in independent gravity wells, where normal physical and natural laws do not apply. Moreover, the configuration of the Escherian Stairwell enables smooth and dynamic camera movement, simulating a natural journey for the viewer. Deliberately selecting this infinite optical illusion underscores the endless potential of augmented reality and 3D animation, offering limitless opportunities for presenting and launching digital creations.
THE ITEMS
What was the reasoning behind the items selection?
The selection of fashion items featured in the video has been meticulously considered. To be honest, nothing in the Infinite Showcase happened by accident. Each item possesses the technological capability to be effectively detected by current tracking technology. Consequently, Snapchat was chosen as the platform where these functionalities work seamlessly. This enables 3D body tracking to enhance the presentation of the showcased jacket, foot tracking to make the shoes look alive, face tracking to interact with the hat and eyewear accordingly.The functionalities extend beyond Snap alone; however, Augmented Reality capabilities within the platform reach great results.
THE DESIGN
What is the secret sauce recipe behind the clip aesthetics?
Drawing inspiration from contemporary street styles, as well as the untamed allure of nature and futuristic aesthetics, all the fashion pieces give off a sense of trendiness. Crafted with the same attention to detail and precision as traditional haute couture, these items seamlessly blend into the realm of high fashion. An emphasis on meticulous detailing and the pursuit of perfection through imperfection, inspired by the organic essence of nature, is evident throughout. For instance, in the 3D animation, the oversized yet airy jacket is adorned with delicate freckles that flutter like gauzy fabric, evoking a sense of organic live beauty. The catwalk presentation, accompanied by an underlying water stream, imparts a feeling of comfort and security to the spectator, but not for long, before plunging them into a realm of contrasting gravity with the shoe capsule machine, where technology contrasts nature. What may appear effortless required meticulous manual fine-tuning to harmonize all elements of the collection, ensuring each piece complements the whole while maintaining its individual integrity. Imagine looking at such machinery in real live, everything just had to look as if the viewer’s actually at the show. The selection of colors, intricate details, patterns, camera dynamics, and music all contribute to a process akin to orchestrating a live performance, a fashion show, but a VR one.
THE WORKFLOW
Let’s take a quick look behind the scenes of the production, shall we?
Coming up a concept where you wield complete control, enjoy genuine creative liberty, and face no time constraints sounds like a dream job. However, in reality, it can pose significant challenges. Transitioning passion into a profession is often one of the most daunting endeavors, yet when executed successfully, the outcomes are truly spectacular. The development of The Infinite Showcase was exactly a case like this. From brainstorming ideas and discarding them to generating new ones, gathering data and creating mood-boards, was just the initial phase of the process. The hard part was yet to come. Once a script was finalized, numerous iterations were required to ensure the technology could support its execution — no small feat in the realm of 3D/VR. Fine-tuning camera movements, angles, and various maneuvers, some of which were manually adjusted, demanded considerable time and effort, often trail and error. The endeavor felt endless, ultimately spanning approximately three months to achieve the desired effect. The Infinite Showcase seemed really infinite.
THE CHALLENGES
Has anything caught you off guard?
Once the general idea of employing the concept of Escherian Stairwell as a backdrop for the showcase was born, the primary hurdle became crafting seamless camera movements. With the use of such mind-bending concept the designer has to always keep in mind the viewers’ perspective. Digital is not a synonym for unreal here. Except for the optical illusion of the relativity within the backdrop every single move was carefully calculated. A prime illustration of this is evident in the shoe “capsules” every single one of them required manual fine tuning to move around the machinery without hindrance. Maths is king.
THE TOOLKIT
What tools come in handy?
I use Blender that serves as the primary 3D software tool. ZBrush is predominantly used for sculpting, shaping items like the shoe or the hat in the clip. Then comes, Marvelous Designer which as a specialized 3D fashion software simulates digital clothing creation in a manner closely resembling real-world sewing techniques. Finally, After Effects, which is utilized for animation editing and compositing.
CREATIVE BACKGROUND
A graduate of the MA studies at the Faculty of Visual Communication of the Polish Japanese Academy of Information Technology. Michal likes to call himself an interdisciplinary visual artist specializing in 3D graphic environments. His diverse portfolio includes animated clips, live show visuals, cover art and video collages created for emerging artists such as Belmondo, Young Multi, Julia Rocka, Wixapol, Tymek, and OKI. Beyond his expertise in 3D animation, Michal also excels in post-production effects, drawing from his earlier passion for video collages and 2D animation prior to transitioning into 3D work. To get to know Michal’s other works visit his Instagram.
