Thirst | Communication Design Practice

Elizabeth Project for Valcucine

The energy in Gordon Gill's daughter Elizabeth inspired this twelve-foot tall mural for Valcucine's Chicago showroom, on the first floor of the Merchandise Mart. Thirst used motion capture technology and custom software written in Processing to sample Elizabeth’s energy as she danced in place. We then rendered studies of her movement before we working with Gordon to choose the right ‘still frame’ composition that would be transformed into the handmade final piece. The expression was of Elizabeth’s energy alone: preserving a moment in time that is kinetic and alive.

Elizabeth’s energy comes to life through motion capture, here shown in WHITE for the Chicago showroom.

Any frame from the motion capture seems suitable for specification.

Elizabeth’s energy rendered in BLACK for the New York showroom.

A behind-the-scenes look at the making of E. Motion Capture by Red-Eye Studios.

Client: Gordon Gill

Service: Motion; Signage

Process

Observation

Right: <em>Unique Forms of Continuity in Space</em> by Umberto Boccioni, 1913

When selecting the final imagery, we were struck by the similarities in both form and concept to Modernist sculpture, specifically the work of Italian artist Umberto Boccioni.

Perhaps it is how the ribbons render form from simple movement or, in this case, just a similar composition. Either way, the energy seems so right!

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