This artefact is an interactive avatar customisation system that investigates how avatar-based design shapes player identification in virtual environments. Rather than prioritising gameplay, it positions customisation as a reflective and meaningful form of interaction.
Users begin with a base avatar designed to accommodate diverse interpretations. A curated range of options, including hairstyles, facial features, and accessories, allows users to construct an avatar that feels personally significant. Controlled adjustments to form and colour support variation while maintaining a focused and intentional experience.
Following customisation, the avatar is placed within a shared virtual environment. Here, it exists alongside pre-generated figures, creating a social setting that invites recognition and comparison. The environment simulates a collective space in which the user locates and reflects on their avatar in relation to others.
Developed using Blender and Unreal Engine, the project adopts a practice-based approach to explore how visual design and spatial context contribute to digital identity formation and emotional engagement.
Cynthia Ding/ Third-Year UCL BA Media Student, explores digital identity through interactive and immersive media. Her practice investigates how avatar customisation functions as a form of self-representation, focusing on the relationship between visual design, user agency, and identification. She believes digital environments allow individuals to explore identity in meaningful and creative ways.
