The Cosmic Atlas
Creating new worlds with procedural generationLocation: Toronto, Canada
BackgroundAs a child, I was obsessed with the show Team Galaxy, an animated series which follows a group of high school friends who defend the galaxy against criminals as Space Marshalls.
This concept of exploring new planets/worlds is common throughout other popular media, such as the hit show Rick and Morty and the award winning game, No Man’s Sky.
ReinterpretationLev Manovich's "Database as Symbolic Form" argues that in new media, traditional narrative structures such as novels, films, and television are being replaced by databases. Rather than a linear structure with a beginning, middle, and end, databases are structureless and allow the user to create their own experience.
Based on this, I created catalog of alien-like planets that the reader can experience without a set narrative or story. By treating these worlds like real places in an atlas, it puts the reader in a “first-person” point-of-view by giving them the task of exploring these worlds instead of simply watching a fictional character.
ProcessDaily sketches and experimentation using p5 JavaScript to explore potential compositions for the book.
World generationCustom terrains were created using Perlin noise in p5 JavaScript. Specific colours were assigned based on height thresholds.
Planet generation3D planet images used on page spreads were procedurally generated using an online tool by Zarkonnen:
https://zarkonnen.itch.io/planet-generator
Page graphicsSpread designs combined elements of old scientific textbooks and y2k aesthetics.
Print and productionThe final booklet was printed on a rib-textured paper that develops a unique patina overtime. Pages were hand cut and saddle stitch bound using thread.