ILLUSTRATION

DIGITAL FABRICATION

Gummy bear light, modeled in Blender and printed with an Ankermake M5. Illuminated by 3 Battery powered LEDS wired specifically for this project. Light turns on and off with a button on the side.

Chocolate brand concept. Chocolate design modeled in Blender and printed with Formlabs SLA printer, then vacuum-formed to create mold. Box designed in Adobe Illustrator and cut with Universal VLS4 Laser. Mini print designed in Clip Studio Paint and printed with Riso EZ 591 U Risograph.

"Wiggly Smi." A 3D printed, articulated Beluga fidget toy, modeled in Blender and printed with an Ankermake M5. His segments interlock together, which allows him to blend and flop around.

3D printed cake themed trinket box, modeled in Blender and printed with a Creality Ender 3 Pro.

Doll Closet. Basic pieces cut with chop saw and table saw. Carving designed in Adobe Illustrator and done with CAMaster Panther CNC Mill. Hangers modeled in Blender and printed with Creality Ender 3 Ver. 2.

Laser-cut doll furniture, designed in Adobe Illustrator and cut with Universal VLS4 Laser.

ABOUT

I fell in love with digital fabrication and makerspaces in college, specifically in an educational setting. Managing a makerspace in an academic library is a unique, cherished experience. I've been passionate about creativity since I was a child, and as an adult, I am now able to share that creativity with students, faculty, and staff at UNCC. I always say one of my favorite parts of my job is showing someone that they can use the big, intimidating machine they saw through the window, and watching them create something they're proud of.

CAUTION

Adult content ahead.

CHANGE

My research for Change primarily focused on transmasculine health and transition, with a touch of the history behind it. A transgender man’s transitioning experience is one that is seldom shared in mainstream media despite the importance it plays in his life. Combined with knowledge from my personal experience, my thesis research included the physical, emotional, sexual, and reproductive effects of hormone replacement therapy in trans men. I also delved briefly into gender-affirming surgical options for trans men to make their bodies more at home. Included with these medical explanations were healthcare statistics and a discussion of the negative effects of transmedicalism on the transgender community.Change serves as a digitally illustrated timeline of a trans male character’s transition. His transition story is just one way a person can experience their transition, but I hope to shed light on the process of transitioning from a trans perspective. Among the few trans narratives seen in mainstream media, several center trans pain as the central concept. While all trans stories are important to tell, this suffering-centric point of view is not the only outcome that trans people face. Instead of a story of sadness, Change is a story of hope and positivity, pervasive even through the difficult times in my character’s experience with a happy ending for both him and his partner. This illustrated timeline is printed and assembled in the form of an accordion folding book, so the viewer can unfold it and view his transition as a whole.Both my research and my personal experience informed the creation of my thesis to create an accurate and believable depiction of the transmasculine experience. Using my knowledge in both the medical and social side of hormone replacement therapy, I created an informed and personal visual display of its effects on someone’s life. With captions briefly explaining the steps in my character’s process, I show each viewer of Change what it is like to be a trans man.