Flatness vs. Projection

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University of Melbourne, Bachelor of Design, 3 Sep 2019.

I was tasked to create a 3D ‘marioworld’ in axonometric using hand-drawing techniques and vector based representation techniques to construct the axonometric based on two 2D marioworld elevations given to me by my tutor.

Concept + Design

Welcome to my floating city, a world half underwater. Inspired by the underwater world in Super Mario 3D World for Nintendo Wii U, I have created a world through the perspective of a player.

Elevated Platforms

One of the main objectives of Mario is to collect all the coins so that the player can get the highest score. The design of my world challenges the player to run on elevated platform without falling into the water. In relation to the concept of a floating city, the platforms were designed to leave puddles of water around practically to create paths that are slippery and theoretically creating movement around the map. Man-made puddles of water along a path gives the sense that someone else once walked on the same path at a different time.

Blocked Paths

Notice how some of the coins are hidden behind "bars" to block off the path? Those were designed to make the player think of another way to get the coins inside.

User-friendly

To ensure a user-friendly interface, I have also designed arrows above the pipes as signage to let the player know he/she could enter into the pipe.

Purpose Defined Space

There is so much to explore above and underwater! The design of my world would encourage the player to spend a longer time to achieve the objectives of the game. In doing so, I have defined a safe space (brown platform), where the player can have a short break and head to the washroom.

Colour Scheme

I used a slightly desaturated and dark palette of colours to give a mysterious atmosphere to my world. I was also playful with the colour choice of some of the structures such as the 'blue mountain', which appeared to be blue on the outside, but green on the inside. I purposefully designed the blue mountain so that everyone could see what lies inside.