AVATARS
Foundational Avatar & Social Presence Design
As one of the few artists at AltspaceVR, I helped build and define the avatars and their social presence within one of the earliest social VR platforms. My work spanned character design, customization systems, and partner-driven avatar development.
When I joined AltspaceVR, the team was beginning avatar design explorations for social VR and was interested in creating a new line of avatars - ones that were more friendly and inviting than the cold, un-expressive existing avatars. We explored a wide range of avatar styles and designs, tested them in in-engine and in VR to see what felt right, and ended up moving forward with the "Rubenoid" and "Robot Head" designs.
Ultimately, these were the designs we thought were suitable for our social VR experience; They were friendly, approachable, stayed far away from the uncanny valley, but still had a sense of presence in-world.
Foundational Avatar & Social Presence Design
As one of the few artists at AltspaceVR, I helped build and define the avatars and their social presence within one of the earliest social VR platforms. My work spanned character design, customization systems, and partner-driven avatar development.
When I joined AltspaceVR, the team was beginning avatar design explorations for social VR and was interested in creating a new line of avatars - ones that were more friendly and inviting than the cold, un-expressive existing avatars. We explored a wide range of avatar styles and designs, tested them in in-engine and in VR to see what felt right, and ended up moving forward with the "Rubenoid" and "Robot Head" designs.
Ultimately, these were the designs we thought were suitable for our social VR experience; They were friendly, approachable, stayed far away from the uncanny valley, but still had a sense of presence in-world.
As the platform grew, AltspaceVR began partnering with high-profile talent and creators, creating a need for customized avatars that reflected their likeness while remaining cohesive within the platform’s established aesthetic.
I designed and developed bespoke Rubenoid variants for these partners — adapting key personalized features, styling details, and unique accents while preserving the base AltspaceVR design language so each avatar felt both personalized and visually cohesive.
This work required balancing likeness, caricature, and stylization within the constraints of VR performance and social readability.
Here's some of the talent we partnered and their custom avatars I had the opportunity to create:
I designed and developed bespoke Rubenoid variants for these partners — adapting key personalized features, styling details, and unique accents while preserving the base AltspaceVR design language so each avatar felt both personalized and visually cohesive.
This work required balancing likeness, caricature, and stylization within the constraints of VR performance and social readability.
Here's some of the talent we partnered and their custom avatars I had the opportunity to create:
Marketing Art
I developed marketing imagery showcasing avatars, partner collaborations, and platform features — staging characters in expressive social contexts and refining lighting, framing, and composition to support product storytelling.
I developed marketing imagery showcasing avatars, partner collaborations, and platform features — staging characters in expressive social contexts and refining lighting, framing, and composition to support product storytelling.
ENVIRONMENTS
Beyond character work, I also contributed to environmental assets and social world-building — supporting the spaces where avatars gathered, interacted, and performed.
This included entire scene/environment development (Geo-Campfire space, Downstairs Club space), prop creation, and environmental support work.
Beyond character work, I also contributed to environmental assets and social world-building — supporting the spaces where avatars gathered, interacted, and performed.
This included entire scene/environment development (Geo-Campfire space, Downstairs Club space), prop creation, and environmental support work.
|
|
|
|