INTERACTIVE

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DIGITAL

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Simon

DESIGNER
UI

Strauss

UX
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Simon Strauss
About

Kiruma

Illuminated Kirigami Lamp of a Castle in the Sky


Original paper diorama of a floating castle, lasercut-precision and folded by hand, encased within acrylic frame box with integrated lights from behind.

Successfully funded in Kickstarter on August, 2017.
Kickstarter Campaign

WEBSITE

Specifically designed to showcase the product in the most interactive way of using smooth video transitions between different angles highlighting the depth, complexity, and the unique aspects of the product.
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PAPER, IN A NEW DIMENSION
The Japanese art of papper cutting & folding from a single sheet of high-grade paper, forming a three dimensional paper sculpture of a floating castle in the sky, inviting the viewers to a world of imagination and wonders.
ATMOSPHERIC LIGHTS
High output - low energy warm white LED lights, fully integrated within the back of the frame box, generating a gentle and peaceful ambiance wherever it's situated.
DIMENSIONS

W = 200 mm
H = 200 mm
L = 125 mm

Weight : 900 g
LIGHTING

3W, 85-240V
250 lumen
2700 K

Type C Plug
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Kiruma

Product, Website
2017-2018
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A Kickstarter Project, successfully funded on August, 2016.

KIRUMA is a sculptural lamp, with original design of floating castle in the sky as the centerpiece.

The kirigami is lasercut for precision and each folded by hands. The final product is encased within acrylic frame box, complete with integrated lighting setup that you can just plug & play.

2016 © Simon Strauss

Kiruma

Kirigami Lamp, Funded on Kickstarter
2017-2018
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Bonzoo

Series of iPad Games for Toddlers


Fun and educational experience for toddlers, designed to provide fun experiences of playing while learning basic interactions with everyday objects, animals, alphabets, while building their vocabulary little by little.
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Bouncing Animals
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Alphabet Train

Jigsaw Puzzle

Drag & Drop

Word Builder

ABC Tracing

SERIES OF 6 GAMES

1. Bouncing Animals
2. Alphabet Train
3. Jigsaw Puzzle
4. Drag % Drop
5. Word Builder
6. ABC Tracing
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Bonzoo

iPad Games, Website
2015-2018
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BonZoo is a universe featuring original characters of balloon-like animals, spanning across 6 educational children games available on the AppStore for iPad.

2015 © Tolhedo Studio

Bonzoo

Series of iPad Games for Toddlers
2015-2018
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Mathever

Mathematical Game for iPhone & iPad


A simple game that tests your quick thinking and counting skills. Deceivingly simple looking, yet unforgiving when it comes to mathematics speed challenge. Within 15 seconds, try to solve as many math problems as possible. But be careful, one wrong answer and it's game over!
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EASY TO PICKUP, HARD TO MASTER


+ Level categories based on simple basic operations: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division ~ All the math problems that matter most in this life really!

+ Formulated and tested challenges with increasing difficulty through all 25 levels per-category.
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+ For math enthusiasts: try your best to reach for three stars in each level to prove if you really have what it takes.
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Mathever

Mobile Game
2017
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A casual and mobile approach on fast counting games, aimed specifically for math enthusiasts.

2017 © Tolhedo Studio

Mathever

Hardcore Mathematical Mobile Game
2017
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One Upon Light

Action-Puzzle Video Game for PS4, PC, and Mac


Monochromatic styled top-down puzzle game with a photophobic protagonist trapped in a world of shifting shadows & lights. Players manipulate objects in the environment to create a path of shadows to navigate through the levels.
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The game was firstly launched exclusively for PS4 as digital download via PSN, and later on also available on STEAM for PC/MAC.
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“The black-and-white atmosphere of the game and its understated sound effects come together to really bring the scientist’s monochrome hell to life.”
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6.5/10 - TechinAsia


“Due to the whole theme of the game being based around light, it was used incredibly well to create details in the background of the puzzles. It also somehow managed to create a real eerie background which for me really worked well with how the game looked and felt.”
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7/10 - Brash Games


“Visuals are simple enough in very black and white setting... It’s the lighting and seeing the light bend and move around objects and becoming part of the puzzle that is interesting and nice to look at.”
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6/10 - ZTGD.com
LEVEL DESIGN / ART PIPELINE
First, the game designer comes up with the basic level design. The programmers then implement the basic playable level of the game using prefabs and plain boxes. Once the level design is finalized, then the artist proceeds to redesign the level visually using 3d assets and 2d textures, and implements them in the game engine for the final look of the game.
MONOCHROMATIC & STYLIZED
Since the whole concept of the gameplay dwells with the importance of lights and shadows, the artistic direction decided to embrace the idea by going with monochromatic style, which also makes it more consistent with the overall dark and mysterious tone of the game. The stylized forms and cartoony textures provides a complimenting contrast to balance out the otherwise overly serious mood.
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One Upon Light

PC/Console Game
2013-2014
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One Upon Light was developed during my stint at Singapore University of Technology and Design Game Lab, where I was the only 3d artist of development team of seven.​I was responsible for all the 3d assets including the models, animations, game engine implementation, as well as some 2d textures & concept arts.

​Developed using 3ds Max, Photoshop, and Unity 3D.

2014 © SUTD Game Lab

O.U.L.

Puzzle-Action Game for PS4
2013-2014
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Monstrcraft

3d printed modern faux taxidermy of the feline family


Inspired by the line stripes of the tiger, I aimed to translate the converse into positive-negative interrelation in three dimensional space.
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The 3d prints are available for purchase here.
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Monstrcraft was one of the source for Straits Times' article about 3d printing on June 29, 2016.
MODERN FAUX TAXIDERMY
Faux Taxidermy is a term used for a replica (faux) of mounted animal head (taxidermy), originating in the art of taxidermy during the Victorian era, when mounted animals became a popular part of interior design and decor.

In this modern day, the 3d printer technology makes it possible to reproduce a more stylized 3d sculpture of an animal head that doesn't require the killing of the real animal, but still brings the charm and aesthetic of having an animal head on your wall as a "trophy".
RAPID PROTOTYPE DESIGN PROCESS
Since the final product is an actual real 3d printed object, a lot physicality and technicality were taken into consideration during the designing process. For example, the thickness of the solid parts have to be calculated and tested for optimal lightweight and rigidity and flexibility so it won’t break easily. The 3d model went a few adjustments before it was ready for mass commercial 3d printing.

To date, hundreds of these tiger heads have been printed and found their new home all around the world through Shapeways marketplace.


TROPHY AWARDS DESIGN MOUNT

The tiger head design is versatile enough for other applications as well. As such, the tiger head was integrated into the official trophy awards for the annual Nutanix Hackathon's winners since 5.0 onwards.
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Monstrcraft

Product
2013
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Monstrcraft is a brand for my 3d printed animal head designs. This feline family marks the first part of a series I'm planning to expand in the future.

2013 © Simon Strauss

Monstrcraft

3d Printed Tiger Heads
2013
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Ladybug

Designer Luggage Tag & Keychain


A fresh take on modern typography design for custom acrylic tags, perfectly suited for personal luggages, bags or purses.

Featuring original arrangements of floral typography letters, printed on lasercut acrylics, finished with gold engraving text.

WEBSITE

Specifically designed to showcase the product in the most informative and fun way, using smooth transitions between the different designs complete with complimenting background nuances, highlighting the unique characteristics of each design.
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Ladybug

Product, Website
2017-2018
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A fresh take on modern typography design for custom acrylic tags, perfectly suited for personal luggages, bags or purses.

Featuring original arrangements of floral typography letters, printed on lasercut acrylics, finished with gold engraving text.

2017 © Simon Strauss

Ladybug

Designer Luggage Tags
2017-2018
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Aquaplantae

Freshwater Aquascaping & Water Features

Branding project for local aquascaping company, specializing in freshwater aquatic garden.

Gallerized on logopond on May 2015.
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Aquaplantae

Branding
‍2015
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Branding project for local aquascaping company, specializing in freshwater aquatic garden.

Gallerized on logopond on May 2015.

2015 © Simon Strauss

Aquaplantae

Branding for Local Aquascape Company
2015
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Arion

Conceptual Brand for Kids Apparels


A logo concept, toying around with the horse silhouette and the letter "a".

In Greek mythology, Arion or Areion is a divinely-bred, extremely swift immortal horse which, according to the Latin poet Sextus Propertius, was endowed with speech.

Gallerized on logopond on November 2018.
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Arion

Branding
‍2018
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A logo concept, toying around with the horse silhouette and the letter "a".

Gallerized on logopond on November 2018.

2018 © Simon Strauss

Arion

Branding Concept for Kids Apparel
2018
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Croco-Drillo

Soft surface 3d modeling of characters


Steampunk-armored crocodile (complete with a giant claw on one hand and a drilling machine on the other hand). Sitting at the top is the creator/mechanic, Mr.T.
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3d modeled in 3ds Max, textured in Photoshop, sculpted in Mudbox, rendered in Keyshot.

Aveda Ashta

Digital 3d sculpting of a humanoid character


Digital sculpting of a higher rank officer from the Kingdom of Aveda (Sanskrit for "Aves/Bird"). This was meant to be a series of characters' silhouettes inspired by the shapes of numbers. This character's name is "Ashta", which is the Sanskrit language for "Eight".

3d modeled in 3ds Max, sculpted in Mudbox.

Louis Moinet Magistralis

Hard edge 3d modeling of a men's watch


A 3d rendering of Magistralis, one of the most expensive watch in the world at close to a million dollar price tag. It boasts a perpetual calendar, a mono-pusher column-wheel chronograph, a moon phase featuring a genuine lunar meteorite and a minute repeater with cathedral gongs.​

3d modeled in 3ds Max, textured in Photoshop, rendered in Keyshot.

"On My Mark"

Digital painting of a children storybook cover


An illustration with some references to classic legends such as "Pied Piper of Hamelin", "Pinocchio", and "Hansel & Gretel".

Digitally painted in Photoshop.
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Illustrations

2D & 3D Artworks
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This section covers some of my personal artistic exploration as well as playground for practicing new softwares, with results ranging from 3d characters to 2d illustration.
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All design © Simon Strauss

Illustrations

Personal 2D & 3D Artworks
2012-current
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Plagues & Potions

Game Prototype using MaKey MaKey Kit as controller


Simple action game conceived as a means of evaluating the team's rapid prototyping and development process, as well as its creativity in utilizing the MaKey MaKey invention kit.

Featured physical controls that emulated the on-screen potion bottles and the required tilting motions to empty their contents.

Game was eventually completed in under a fortnight with a core team of four.

Chroma Trap

Two Players Turn Based Strategy Game


A deceiving mind game between two players trying to accomplish their mission without the opponent knowing it. At the start of the round, each player will receive a set of mission briefs which includes both the player's and the opponent's as well. The player who gets to finish his/her mission done first will win the game.

Prototype developed over the course of two weeks time by a team of four.

Snake Arena

Fast Paced Multiplayer Survival Action Game


A battle arena between four players as snakes trying to outlive the rest by feeding off each other and avoid losing all of the body segments. Every ten seconds, all snakes will lose a segment, until there's only one snake with the longest segment left as the sole winner. Some random dropping of power up such as temporary speed boost, adding twist to the gameplay.

Prototype developed by a team of two, as part of internal Game Jam over the course of one week.
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Prototypes

Various
2012
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Some of the prototype projects that I developed during my stint as Game Artist at GAMBIT Game Lab and SUTD Game Lab.
Each project typically was developed in under two weeks by a team of two to four, of which I was the only one in the art team, and responsible for all visual assets as well as some design contribution to the gameplay aspects.

2012 © Singapore MIT GAMBIT Game Lab & SUTD Game Lab

Prototypes

Various Game Prototypes
2012
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