IBM — PROJECT DEBATER

I collaborated with the talented team of Perception NYC developing different concepts, aesthetics and motion tests for one of the ambitious projects of IBM - Project Debater, an advanced Artificial Intelligence technology capable of forming and articulating arguments based on research and facts in real-time. The main goal and challenge were to create a "persona", a visual representation that was approachable and engaging, also, it needed to be capable of conveying subtle emotions like thought, confidence, humor and disagreement. We covered a wide variety of explorations from 2D/3D solutions to Abstract and Experimental while understanding and visualizing what felt right for the Debater.

You can learn more about the project and see it in action HERE.

3D HUMANIZED BUSTS

ABSTRACT ORBS

ABSTRACT AVATAR REPRESENTATIONS

CAPSULE — MOTION TESTS

After exploring some potential ideas, the Perception team provided me with a design represented by a capsule shape with a fluid stored in its container, I helped to do some motion tests experimenting with different types of movements and behaviour.

3D PROCESS

A few screenshots from the setups of two ideas we were pushing a bit more in the beginning of the project.

I tried to keep it as simple as possible to save render time which made me able to quickly iterate the visuals using Photoshop + After Effects creating alternative versions.

As we had to animate it to convey subtle emotions, I was provided with an audio track, part of the AI speech, and specifically for the Humanized Bust version, I did a very basic rig setup to give some movement to it as the AI speaks, I also used the audio track to drive the particle emission causing the particles to react every time the AI speech was played.

CREDITS LIST

Client: IBM.

Studio: Perception NYC.

Creative Director: John LePore.

Producer: Eric Daly.

Designer / Animator: Bruno William.

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