Project Overview

For the Qatar Milaha National Day, we embarked on a groundbreaking journey to create a virtual event during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal was to replicate the essence of a traditional celebration in the digital world, crafting an experience that was both immersive and interactive. This virtual event was a blend of Qatar's rich heritage and cutting-edge technology, featuring checkpoints with traditional Qatari games, informative heritage spots, and a live chat for attendees to interact, mirroring the dynamics of an actual event.

Navigating Challenges

Creating a 3D web experience presents its own set of challenges, especially when it needs to function smoothly across various browsers and on less powerful computers. One of the biggest hurdles was optimizing the 3D scene for thousands of simultaneous users. This often meant choosing performance over aesthetics to ensure a seamless experience. The task was to balance visual fidelity with technical constraints, ensuring the virtual event was accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

My Role and Contribution

As the lead for both Art and Creative Direction, my role was multifaceted. I oversaw a team of talented creatives and technical developers, guiding the project's artistic and technical trajectories. My hands-on involvement included setting up and fine-tuning the Unity scene for developers to utilize. We used Maya and Blender for meticulous asset creation and optimization, and Substance Painter for detailed texturing. The entire process culminated in Unity, where we brought everything together and perfected the scene lighting, ensuring a cohesive and visually stunning virtual environment.

Event Success

The virtual event was a resounding success. We managed to create an engaging and fully functional 3D environment without any loading issues across different browsers. Attendees were able to immerse themselves in a beautifully rendered representation of old Qatar, interact with each other, and enjoy the event's offerings. The positive feedback and smooth user experience were testaments to the hard work and dedication put into every aspect of this project.