3D Visualizations: Mechapets

November 22, 2024

My art piece, “MechaPets,” is a message that combines two concepts: what would the world look like if pets were no longer cheap, and the future was open for man to continue their exploration into the stars? When I first delved into speculative design for the future, I looked up pets and their future and read an article about how inflation was forcing people to let go of their furry friends. Not to mention, I was also reading up on space travel and all the concept art that went with it, and the idea of exploring beyond the moon and Mars. That is when I produced the speculative design and futuristic company: “MechaPets.Inc.” Where anyone can afford a pet of their choice and take them on their space-exploring adventures wherever they so choose! I decided on two pets: one familiar, such as a dog, and the other not-so-familiar, a gecko, made in Adobe Dimensions and then 3D printed. They were then painted, wrapped in cloth to show their robotic joints, and given attachable and detachable parts to be interacted with using magnets. The gecko was also painted with glow-in-the-dark paint, which can be seen with a UV light. This was my way of experimenting but also delving into mixed media. These two animals align with MechaPets’ message that any animal, big or small, can be made and can accompany anyone, anytime, anywhere. I also created two advertisements in Adobe Illustrator that use 3D elements to showcase what these animals can do and highlight the company’s history and purpose.

Nevertheless, the difficult part of working on these robotic animals was that I was not used to bringing something in the 3D world to life in the physical world. Not to mention, the 3D printers used to make these two critters were difficult for me to use the first time. It was my first time experimenting with the 3D printer, and I am quite proud of having gone beyond what I initially thought I was capable of. I also had a tough time painting the gecko with the glow-in-the-dark paint, since it does not layer well and was also messy. The advertisements were not difficult to make. I know what I wanted and executed it.