The avatar will be used to welcome guests before setting the tone of the event, displayed using our proto-epic hologram technology.
The winner will not only receive a £150 voucher, but you’ll be adding valuable experience to your CV too by contributing to a high-profile event. You’ll also be invited to come along on the day to see your work come to life and network with staff across the University, including senior leaders.
The Brief
We’d like you to create a full-body avatar of the University’s Pro Vice Chancellor of Education and Student Experience, Professor Sam Grogan, who will be hosting the event.
Using this 19-second video clip for inspiration, we’d like you to match the audio and demonstrate any other animated movements to enhance the quality of your video – be as creative as you’d like!
Your submission should be up to 30 seconds long and follow the below tech requirements:
- Please follow the Proto Digital Content Creation Guide
- To provide depth, a shadow should be visible behind the avatar in the video
- Ideally, the avatar should be against a lightly coloured background (traditionally, we use white backgrounds for a clear shadow effect)
- The resolution should be 4k portrait (2160px x 3840px)
- Render in mp4
If successful, you’ll be contacted with a more detailed brief for the event and a 2-3 minute audio file and script to use, which will need to be provided by 28 April 2025.
Assessment criteria
In addition to your creativity, submissions will be assessed on the following:
- Quality: The avatar should be smooth, visually appealing and of a high-quality.
- Resemblance: The avatar should be a close resemblance to Professor Sam Grogan.
- Audio Synchronisation: Mouth movements must match the audio provided. However, you can submit further abilities that might set your work apart from others (for example, a ‘pop up’ object next to Sam which he might point or spin to.
- Full body avatar and movement: The avatar should depict Sam’s full body so it can be displayed in the proto-epic hologram. We’re looking to see how you can animate natural movements such as hand gestures. Please note the proto-epic hologram will remain in place on the stage, so it must appear that Sam is in the ‘box’.
How to enter
Submissions should be sent to Liam O’Connell by email before 6 April 2025. Please ensure your submission includes your name and student number in the subject line.
Along with your avatar, you should provide a brief description of your design process and other ideas you might want to make for the final version if you were to be selected. Please also state your availability to work on the project; our aim is to offer flexibility within the deadline but we will organise touch points to check how your work is progressing.
Good luck!