"LAYRD"
Motivation
"LAYRD" was developed as my Final Year Project at the University of Westminster. The final submission was to present either a video game prototype, software, or tool, alongside written documentation and an accompanying dissertation. The idea of "LAYRD" was conceived during the peak of the NFT craze in 2021 when I took an interest and began research into generative asset creation. I then continued developing the project as my FYP.
Key Features & Implementations
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Procedural art and asset generation
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Custom art import
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2D & 3D export functionalities
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Metadata exports
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Clean & concise UI
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Custom directory export locations
Learning Outcomes
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Procedural layering algorithms
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Image import & export within Unity
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FBX import & export within Unity
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Algorithm optimizations
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Importance of UX & UI
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Improved written & spoken communication
Tools & Software
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Unity
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Blender
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Adobe Animate
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Photoshop
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Visual Studio 2022
Programming Language
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C#
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JavaScript & JSON
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Roles
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Developer
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QA Tester
Project Summary
"LAYRD" is a comprehensive software solution developed with the purpose of democratizing the digital art world, specifically in relation to the creation of NFT collections and game-ready 3D assets. Developed with an intuitive user interface, "LAYRD" allows users to generate, export, and manage their NFT collections seamlessly without necessitating any prior programming knowledge or experience with other generative software. The technical backbone of the application hinges on procedural generation algorithms, which allow for the creation of unique NFTs. Additionally, the "LAYRD: 3D" module further extends the software's capabilities, enabling the creation of 3D assets based on user-provided base geometry. This functionality leans heavily on combination algorithms that ensure the uniqueness and variety of each generated asset. Note that the 3D module is still being developed and is in the prototype stage currently.
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The development process adhered closely to the principles of Agile methodology, promoting iterative testing and adaptation to project needs, which was particularly beneficial given the complex nature of the project. Constant reflection on feature implementations and regular evaluations of the efficiency of the asset generation and export functions were carried out to ensure the optimal performance of the software. The project required an understanding of procedural generation concepts, user interface design, and NFT metadata handling. A major focus was also placed on optimizing the algorithms to iterate over a large number of assets while maintaining efficient performance and reliable output. Fundamentally, the "LAYRD" project represents a significant step towards breaking down barriers within the digital art world, offering an accessible and user-friendly solution for digital art creation.
MEDIA





