For this Unity project, I reconstructed an alien desert habitat populated by five speculative creatures: deformed crabs, floating aliens, stone people, gigantic unidentified flying creatures, and slime. These creatures were inspired by sounds I recorded from the human body’s clothing using various techniques such as friction, plucking, and scraping. Each creature embodies a sound that was spatially placed according to the origin on the clothing and modified to reflect the creature’s personality.
Creature Selection & Intent
- Deformed Crabs
The crabs are small yet agile creatures with sharp, precise movements. I chose a scraping sound for them, derived from scraping a piece of fabric. The sharp, slightly abrasive noise mirrors the sound of the crab’s claws dragging across the desert sand. This sound encapsulates the crab’s subtle but persistent presence in the environment. - Floating Aliens
These ethereal creatures hover gracefully above the ground, giving them an air of mystery and wonder. I used a small bell accessory from the clothing, adjusting the pitch to create a more otherworldly, mystical sound. The bell’s delicate yet haunting resonance conveys the aliens’ enigmatic nature and otherworldly origin, as if their every movement is surrounded by an aura of curiosity and intrigue. - Stone People
For the stone people, I wanted to capture the sound of weight and power. I recorded the sound of plucking fabric, which was transformed to simulate the heavy, deliberate stomping of stone feet on sandy ground. The deep, resonant tones reflect the stone people’s massive, imposing presence as they slowly move through the desert, as though they are ancient guardians of this desolate world. - Gigantic Unidentified Flying Creatures
These colossal beings soar through the sky, dominating the upper atmosphere of the desert habitat. The sound for them needed to evoke grandeur and mystery. Their sound comes from a mix of manipulated clothing recordings, layered to simulate the whooshing of wings and the subtle echoes of a vast creature moving through space. This reflects their dominance and the awe they inspire in anyone who witnesses their flight. - Slime
The slime creatures are amorphous and ever-changing, sliding across the desert in a slow, methodical manner. Their sound is derived from the friction of cloth being dragged across a surface. I transformed this sound to feel wet and squelching, emphasizing the creature’s viscous, sticky movement across the landscape.
Process & Sound Collection
The sound recordings were made by interacting with various pieces of clothing on a human body, utilizing friction, plucking, and scraping to create unique auditory experiences. Each sound was carefully matched to the personality and movement of the creatures. By adjusting pitch, tone, and spatial placement within Unity, I aimed to seamlessly integrate the creatures into their environment, giving each its own distinct sound profile that enhances the immersive experience of exploring the habitat.
Habitat & Spatial Design
The habitat itself is a vast, expansive alien desert, where the terrain is exaggerated to allow each creature space to exist within its own territory. The deformed crabs scuttle along the ground in the low sandy dunes, while the floating aliens glide mysteriously above. The stone people roam near rocky outcroppings, and the giant flying creatures cast long shadows as they soar across the sky. Slime slowly traverses the desert floor, leaving behind shimmering trails.
A first-person character controller was added for the viewer to explore this strange world, providing an immersive experience to interact with the creatures and hear the sounds in their natural positions.
This project allowed me to explore the transformation of everyday sounds into a fantastical alien landscape. Each speculative creature was designed to express a distinct personality, with its sound enhancing the narrative of its existence. By using sounds from clothing and modifying them, I created an otherworldly ambiance that invites players to explore and engage with a speculative world full of mystery and imagination.