EMPIRE BREAKS Digs deep into golden-era boom bap drums, punchy kicks, solid snares, and crispy hats
SUMMARY
I lead the 3D design process and created the artwork and animation for Native Instruments "Empire Breaks". My role in this project was to create a 3D setting, ideate and iterate on several concepts, design the pads for the GUI, and create the 3D animation.
TEAM
Zack Ferriday
Alastair Oloo.
ROLE
3D Designer
3D Animation
UI Design
CLIENT
Native Instruments
2022
BRIEF
EMPIRE BREAKS packs the timeless essence of classic, sample-based drums into an inspiring Play Series instrument that unlocks the rhythmic sound of golden-era hip hop.
• Keywords: New York, graffiti, subway, fire escapes, neighborhood, taxi, corner store, hip hop
R&D
There were a couple of concepts developed during the research phase before landing on the final design.
Scene
It was important that the neighborhood resembled those found in New York. We wanted the main building to be a corner store bodega style of shop.
• Lights: The light setup was done using one wide light and two texture lights plus a sunlight.
Textures & Renders
Several mixtures of textures had to be created to get a procedural result that could be adjusted as needed.
ANIMATION
Subway
The subway represents the city's identity and culture so we wanted to incorporate it in some way.
GUI Pads
We designed the GUI pads to echo the iconic visual language of New York subway station signs, incorporating the bold typography, distinct color coding, and a structured layout to create an intuitive and familiar interface.
Outcome
Empire Breaks was successfully launched and is bringing the raw, gritty energy of classic NYC hip-hop to producers worldwide. It is now available on Natives Instruments' website in their Play Series section.
