Client
Marc Dryer
Year
2021
Media
Autodesk Maya
Blender 3D
Adobe Photoshop
Audience
Educated Lay Public
About
This was a mock nature cover based on a research article by Riglar et. al. The field of engineered probiotics shows a promising approach for non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic tools in the gut. By genetically engineering commensal bacterial strains with transcriptional switches, memory of inflammation can be retained. This can subsequently be tested in stool samples or intestinal biopsies and provide more information than current tests can. This mock nature cover attempts to show the promise of using engineered bacteria as diagnostic tools in the gut.
Final nature cover
Process
Sketches
Three rough concept sketches were created prior to finalizing a full comprehensive sketch. After discussing with peers, the final comprehensive was based on a combination of all thre sketches.
Rough concept sketches
Comprehensive Sketch & Block Out
The comprehensive was rendered out in procreate and served as the main guide for the 3D layout in Maya. A rough blockout was also created before sculpting and texturing to ensure the layout was as it should be.
Comprehensive sketch and 3D Blockout
Hard Surface Modelling
One of the main characters in this cover was the robotic bacteria which was created through hard-surface modelling. Meticulous detail was put into the texture and design of the robotic bacteria to give it a high-tech and futuristic look while also giving the sense that it was a robot designed to look for something (Lights in the front, large bowl lens in the front).
Close-up Renders of Robotic Bacteria
Renders
After the intestinal villi were made a hair system and particle system were added to give a more dynamic feel to the scene. The layout was also modified slightly to give more emphasis to the robotic bacteria.
Final layout versions
Animation
After the project was complete, I decided to create a short looping animation to make the most out of these assets. The models were transferred to Blender 3D where it was rigged/animated. A final render was made using the Blender Eeevee engine.
References
- Riglar DT, Giessen TW, Baym M, Kerns SJ, Niederhuber MJ, Bronson RT, Kotula JW, Gerber GK, Way JC, Silver PA. Engineered bacteria can function in the mammalian gut long-term as live diagnostics of inflammation. Nat Biotechnol. 2017 Jul;35(7):653-658. doi: 10.1038/nbt.3879. Epub 2017 May 29. PMID: 28553941; PMCID: PMC5658125.