part of the development kiara posted earlier
we thought to put water color on the map to convey “hotspots” for where users may want to put the tokens on
further development of habitation hubs / barnacles
temporary coloring for the illustrations 
Developments
General
Maps and Illustrations v3
General
wanted to add little buildings all around the map to
the next step is to make illustrations for the buildings to be included on the gamebook
Designing the We, Robot map
GamebooksCo-design was a big factor in the development of the world map. The architectural drawings required lots of iteration, initially three dimensional but refined through a stripped-back ‘city pattern’. This was combined with further design elements to create a compositional layout for the map which also conveyed the We, Robot aesthetic.
Creating additional materials for the V1 We, Robot Gamebook
GamebooksWhile the first version of the We, Robot Gamebook goes into great detail about the world and how players can interact with it, additional material such as maps and posters can be included to further bring the world to life.
The focus on wayfinding is best illustrated through a worldmap, which allows players to quickly observe areas of the world and make sense of this. Accessible information aims to encourage players into wanting to discover more about the game world.
Toolkit Cards
ToolkitWhilst developing the ‘drag and drop’ system, the concept of cards was introduced as a toolkit to physically represent world characteristics.
During the TILT activity, four characteristics of the world could be determined, which then translate into four world cards.
Cards could be grouped together for each of the categories in the system. A symbolic object attached to a keychain could keep the cards together, and work as a tangible game artefact.
We, Robot Map and Illustrations v2
General29/01/19
progress pictures
Workshop Notes
Toolkit, WorkshopsNotes from observations of multiple workshops utilising systems inspired by The Quiet Year, Deep Forest, Tiny Fate and more
These observations provided insight into the introduction, setting up, and overall player involvement in world-building from both experienced and novice rpg player’s perspectives.
We, Robot World Map and Illustrations
Gamebooksinitial sketches
initial sketches include most of the notable settings listed in the We, Robot gamebook under the category of “Wayfinding”
I’ve been trying to lay out my interpretation of the world map by including bodies of water/vegetation and green spaces if there are any and how
ive also tried to use some old half made unused 3d model to try and make some parts of offgrid settlements
i dabbled in it just to see if it was a viable way of going about the final illustrations of the map and environment.
overall
ill post the progress of the map as soon as theyre all together and clear
Speculative Architecture
GeneralIn developing fictional environments and settings, there comes an opportunity to approach it through applying architecture knowledge. Though speculating is a core part of the design process in architecture, the field of Speculative Architecture is not one of popularity.
Below are a few things gathered around the definition of speculative architecture:
- The term “architecture fiction” is known to have been coined by writer Bruce Sterling in 2006, in referring to an architect’s speculative projects that are more alike self-expression through visual storytelling that concern the built environment.
- Narrative driven projects and storytelling through architecture. Seeing as the design processes in the field also call for the ability to present, explore, and synthesize complex ideas.
- Fictional architecture is the imagination and visual realization of unbuilt structures, dwellings, and urban environments. Operating between art and architecture as it gives opportunity to ponder architectural possibilities without bounds.
- Speculative designs may offer visionary directions forward.
“Their subversive work guides our collective move forward, not by indicating an ideal destination, but rather by offering directions along the way.”
source: https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/speculative-design-playing-devils-advocate/8659931.article
Archigram
“if city planning had traditionally encouraged contemplation of the fixed and ideal architectural object, plug-in planning promoted architecture as an event that could only be realized by the active involvement of its inhabitants”
Archigram seems to be one of the more known example of speculative architecture, since the newsletter and illustrations that were created are mostly just radical ideas and fictional instead of being an actual built environment.
- Avant-garde architectural group based in London that incorporated pop culture and advertising, new technology and neo-futurist imagery in the late 1960s. The group came about to criticize projects, write letters to the architectural press, and help each other in projects and competitions in an attempt to keep each other from the boredom of post-war London firms.
- Their newsletter, which was illustrations of radical architecture ideas, were meant to re-evaluate architectural practices and it’s nature at the time. Their illustrations were made used theories of modern architecture such as Futurism, Constructivism, and Brutalism
- It has been noted that due to its unfettered creativity, Archigram was usually enjoyed more by artists since most architects of the time dismissed it as fantastical.
- But looking back at Modern British architecture, Archigram played a part in practicing the Brutalist style of architecture and inspired more structural and functionalist expressionism in buildings. This helped spark the more futuristic High-Tech architecture that started at the end of British 20th Century architecture.
Kim Beom’s work displayed in APT9 at QAGOMA
also serves as an example of speculative architecture and architecture fiction.
references
- Sadler, S. (2005). Archigram. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.
- Cook, P. (1973). Archigram. New York: Praeger Publishers.
- https://www.archdaily.com/456026/five-fantastical-examples-of-speculative-architecture
- https://www.metropolismag.com/cities/five-compelling-works-of-architecture-fiction/?cparticle=2&siarticle=1&utm_medium=website&utm_source=archdaily.com
- https://strelkamag.com/en/article/what-is-speculative-architecture
- https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/speculative-design-playing-devils-advocate/8659931.article
- https://www.designboom.com/tag/fictional-architecture/