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Hello!
Hello!
My name is Zandria. I grew up in ʻEwa Beach and attended James Campbell High School, where I discovered my love for film, drawing, and drama. After exploring digital art and playwriting—and realizing the cost of out-of-state art schools—I chose UH West Oʻahu’s Creative Media program. My time here has allowed me to build a wide range of media skills, from video editing to screenwriting and design. While I enjoy being a creative “swiss-army knife,” my true passions are illustration and video game development. If I was an artist's tool, I would be a detail paint brush. The most literal reason would be because I make art while I happen to be of a shorter stature and a quieter voice, trying to blend in with the background. I get frayed and frazzled when pressed and worked too hard, but can create something beautiful amidst that imperfection. I wander in the broad landscape that is life and seek out the special details, the deeper meanings. The path that I walk can feel slow and tedious, and I may struggle with that a lot. However when my effort's put to fruition, the surprising result, like nectar guides of a petal, can look great! It makes the effort feel worth it.
Research Topic: Pacific Cultures' Representation in Character Design
Research Topic: Pacific Cultures' Representation in Character Design
Research Question: What story and design research practices goes into an effective representation of Pacific Islander cultures?
Research Question: What story and design research practices goes into an effective representation of Pacific Islander cultures?
Abstract:
Abstract:
The purpose of an artist's character design can vary and depend on the type of medium that is being used. But overall, the purpose is to make characters look visually interesting and memorable. It starts with an idea, as well as brainstorming and briefing until a good enough character description is made, followed by seeking references, and using them to apply multiple elements of design which goes through multiple iterations until a final result is fully developed. While storytelling can be enhanced when a character's influence of the culture they're from is addressed, there are also pitfalls that can result from it being mishandled: playing into stereotypes, cultural appropriation, and commodification. When analyzing between works of the outsider perspective shared in the mainstream, and the resident perspective in locally-produced material, designs and story structures shift depending on the intended audience and purpose of the material itself. This research serves to analyze the processes and choices in character design across different animations and video games which has depicted Pacific Islander or Pacific Islander-influenced characters, as well as the level of effectiveness based off of the fans' reception of them. It draws from both locally and non-locally produced material in order to compare and contrast the approaches taken.
Capstone Project: Video Game
Capstone Project: Video Game
Project Title: The Wayfinders
Project Title: The Wayfinders
CREATIVE PROCESS:
CREATIVE PROCESS:
The concept of creativity has come a long way. The Old Greeks would call those creative forces muses, other religions referred to them as God. Today people still mostly treat creativity as an aha moment outside the area of influence. However, just by looking at the creative process one can tell, that creativity and creative work is more than just that one "Aha-Moment" (insight). It is clear that generating ideas demands planning and preparation, identifying something of interest like a problem, an opportunity or a challenge, doing research. This then leads to thinking of a solution, allowing time to incubate and iterations before arriving at something “complete.” Students learn that hard work is what makes their ideas come to life and sticktuiveness is what helps them get better.
DELIVERABLE:
DELIVERABLE:
Zandria bridged research and creation in real time, developing both her scholarly work and an original game centered on Pacific cultural representation in character design. 🎮Her capstone explored how characters influenced by Pacific Islander cultures are conceptualized, designed, and received—highlighting the importance of authenticity, cultural context, and the risks of misrepresentation. As she studied the difference between outsider portrayals and local perspectives, Zandria applied these insights directly into her creative process, crafting characters that celebrate identity without compromising nuance. Her work stands as both a critique and a contribution to more thoughtful, culturally grounded design in games.
Drawn with care. Zandria designed a game that embodies representation and respect. Go and check it out!
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