Workday called for a 25% adjusted operating margin in the current quarter, below Wall Street's estimate of 25.5%.

Exactly a year ago, KIRI Engine released 3D Gaussian Splatting across all supported platforms, two months later its built-in editing tools, and another two months later 3DGS to Mesh. This brand new 3D scanning method has received lots of utilization and love as optimizations and tools dedicated to it are continously introduced, making this seemingly too-good-to-be-true 3D visualization technique more accessible and practical.Today, a year later, KIRI Engine is excited to announce two revolutionary updates in its 3.12 release: 3D Gaussian Splatting to Mesh 2.0 and KIRI Engine 3DGS Blender Addon V2.0. Along with other quality of life changes and improvements to the overall versatility of the app, this is an update you dont want to miss.3DGS (3D Gaussian Splatting) to Mesh 2.0In January 2024, KIRI released 3DGS to Mesh 1.0. This was made possible in collaboration with CJ Ye and his team, and it was the first attempt to make 3DGS more applicable in widely-used applications as the native PLY point cloud file was hardly accepted and visualized correctly in any rendering engine. This method worked by running a separate algorithm on top of the existing splat, reconstructing surface meshes from the depth map analyzed from the generated gaussian splat result. While this method worked to an extent, the light and depth data was often inaccurate and resulted largely inconsistent results, with featureful objects being converted into mesh files with much higher fidelity than their featureless counterparts.Figure 1: 3DGS to Mesh 1.0 Generated SuitcaseBuilding on top of the solid foundation provided by the lastest gaussian splatting mechanics, the newly updated gaussian splat-to-mesh conversion introduces sophisticated normal prediction and reflection removal techniques. Developed once again by the KIRI Engine team and CJ Ye, the new algorithm draws inspiration from professional 3D scanners, specifically the super-dense point cloud generation methodology. With this change, the algorithm is now able to handle scenarios that used to be impossible for gaussian splat-to-mesh reconstruction, which were scanning reflective and transparent surfaces as they would disrupt the reconstruction process by providing inaccurate depth data.This update has been uploaded on GitHub, along with model viewers that display the differences between 1.0 and 2.0. The model viewers are rigged to be in synch in terms of the camera position, making the models differences stand out clearly.Figure 2: 3DGS-to-Mesh 2.0 versus 1.0 on GitHubFigure 3: 3DGS-to-Mesh 2.0 (detected as reflection) versus 1.0 on GitHubMoreover, 3DGS-to-Mesh 2.0 yields significantly higher quality results and processes the files at a much more consistent level.Figure 4 & 5: 3DGS to Mesh 1.0 vs. 2.0In actual practice, the 3DGS-to-Mesh data will be processed and stored under the Scans list, as they will be high-quality 3D models with tons of editability within the app just like KIRIs Photo Scans and Featureless Object Scans.Needless to say, 3DGS-to-Mesh 2.0 is a state-of-the-art technology and marks a significant leap in raterizational-radiance fields derived geometry research. Additional great news: this technology will be fully open-sourced towards the end of this year or the beginning of 2025.3DGS MaskingIn version 3.12 of KIRI Engine, many changes to gaussian splatting are added directly to aid artists workflows, where features and usability improvements are introduced to the update.3DGS now has masking features, which isolates the object from the rest of the background in the model generation process. For those unfamiliar with this technique, auto-masking has been a tried-and-true method for KIRI Engines Photo Scan, where areas besides the object in focus are automatically cropped out.Figure 6: 3DGS to Mesh 2.0 Generated Suitcase (Masked)3DGS Masking will be available for both conventional 3D gaussian splats as well as the new 3DGS-to-Mesh production, where in both cases the user can obtain a clean model without noise coming from the background. This will be a toggle feature on the upload menu for both methods, where you can get the full scene along with its background when turned off, and the isolated object by itself with the feature turned on.Figure 7: 3DGS Masking Off vs. On3DGS Blender Addon V2.0A couple months ago, KIRI released its very own 3DGS Blender Addon and fully open sourced it. Since then, They have been closely monitoring the addon, gathering community feedback, and in turn, improving the existing features as well as implementing new ones.New FeaturesNew Modifiers Edit mode:Several editing modifiers are created and added to the 3DGS object for importing. These modifiers speed up workflow and performance significantly. The modifiers include:Camera CullingCrop BoxesDecimationRemove ArtifactsFigure 8: Crop Tool Demonstration in KIRIs 3DGS Blender Addon V2.0New Point Edit mode:This mode is for editing point clouds before importing the 3DGS object, which can be used to create an isolated object from a full scene.New Modify Animate mode:This mode allows the user to add several animation presets in a few clicks:Noise displacementsTo points transformationTo curves transformationPixelate transformationOptimizations / Bugfixes:Imported objects are now editableHQ Splat/Render now supports multiple objects, objects can be renamed, and the original file location does not need to be keptBlender will not freeze when using the addon in orthograpic viewLike the initial release of KIRI Engine 3DGS Blender Addon V1.0, the new release will be fully free to download and open-sourced for developers, and it continues to be the most usable addon for 3DGS rendering/editing in Blender.Learn more about 3DGS Render on GitHub here.Get 3DGS Render Addon on Blender Market here.Quality of Life UpdatesFeatureless Object ScanMesh quality improvementUIChanged the Include Mesh from the 3DGS upload page to 3DGS to MeshAfter selecting 3DGS to Mesh, there will be two files being generated:A gaussian splat under the 3DGS listA mesh file based on the splat under the Scans listA Few Words from the DevsThis is one of our proudest updates to date, especially in the realm of 3D gaussian splatting. As we continuously push for innovations ever since the initial release of this technology, we released many different features and tools for the reality-stealing capturing method to be more accessible, and we could not be happier with how far weve comeThere are loads of possibilities heading into the future with 3D gaussian splats, and the release of 3DGS to Mesh 2.0 and the Blender Addon V2.0 is the first step of many. We are infinitely excited and optimistic to see what wonders lie ahead of the technologys path, and we are so proud of everything our dev team has achieved. Zion, KIRI Engines PR ManagerThe release of KIRI Engine 3.12 accompanies the programs biggest sales event of the year, offering its premium subscription at the lowest price in the entire year. This is a wonderful opportunity to capitalize on the unlimited access to the state-of-the-art features they newly released. The subscription will be available on all supported platforms.Happy scanning!Check out KIRI Engines official release video for version 3.12 here.Download the KIRI Engine Blender Addon on GitHub.Visit KIRI Engines Official WebsiteDownload KIRI Engine from the Google Play StoreDownload KIRI Engine from the App StoreDont miss KIRI Engines Black Friday sale 55% off! Brought to you by KIRI Engine:This article is part of the befores & afters VFX Insight series. If youd like to promote your VFX/animation/CG tech or service, you can find out more about the VFX Insight series here.The post Restoring Reality: 3D Gaussian to Mesh 2.0 appeared first on befores & afters.

RE:Vision Effects is the creator of unique, Emmy and Academy Award winning software. Their deep, high-end, flexible solutions address retiming, deflickering, denoising, motion blur, texture mapping in post, warping, and morphing.And it doesnt stop there if you need color matching and automatic color enhancement, upres and video detail enhancement, and handling of lens distortion, projection and VR 180/360 including stabilizationwe have plug-ins for that.Used worldwide by professional video editors and compositors, RE:Vision Effects plug-ins are supported on After Effects, Autograph, Baselight, Catalyst, Diamant, FCP, Flame, Fusion, Hitfilm, Media Composer, Motion, Natron, Nucoda, Nuke, Premiere, Resolve, Scratch, Silhouette and Vegas.Take advantage of their Cyber Week sale 25% off all products!Use the discount coupon: B&ACyberBlack24Head to https://revisionfx.com to find your plug-in.Brought to you by RE:Vision Effects:This article is part of the befores & afters VFX Insight series. If youd like to promote your VFX/animation/CG tech or service, you can find out more about the VFX Insight series here.The post Cyber Week Sale Now On at RE:Vision Effects! appeared first on befores & afters.

Pitch it Recurring monthly on the fourth Wednesday during the Epic Office Hours, we'll set aside some time where we put together a small panel of folks to listen to your pitches. Join us in the Epic for Indies Discord channel for the very first Pitch It! today, Nov 27, at 3:00 PM ET Get feedback on ways to tweak and improve how you present your game: https://discord.com/invite/M2dHvYXKEC #EpicForIndies

Turns out there's a technological reason why Isaac Clarke's suit in Dead Space has ribbings.Art direction and diegesis, yes, but not just that: https://80.lv/articles/the-technological-reason-behind-the-ribbed-suit-design-in-dead-space/

Baldur's Gate 3 will get a huge update, known as Patch 8, in 2025.It will feature 12 new subclasses, cross-play, and photo mode: https://80.lv/articles/baldur-gate-3-gets-a-huge-update-with-12-new-subclasses-in-2025/

Dr. Susan Lacy had been caring for transgender patients for several years in Tennessee when, in 2023, everything changed. In the span of a few months, the Republican-governed state banned healthcare providers from treating minors for gender dysphoria.The Memphis gynecologist, one of the plaintiffs who challenged the law in a case going before the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 4, recalled the hype and hysteria as public debate coarsened over the issue.Why all of a sudden its a problem is a little bit hard to understand, said Lacy, 57, who has her own medical practice and has an adult child who is transgender. I think that really comes from sort of a political motivation to create an issue that people can rally around.Gender dysphoria is the clinical diagnosis for significant distress that can result from an incongruence between a persons gender identity and the sex they were assigned at birth.Tennessees law aims to encourage minors to appreciate their sex by prohibiting puberty blockers or hormones used to help them live as a purported identity inconsistent with the minors sex. Tennessee House of Representatives Majority Leader William Lamberth, a Republican who co-sponsored the measure, said in a statement to Reuters that he is optimistic about the states case.This case is about protecting vulnerable young people who are experiencing gender dysphoria or other mental health crises from making the biggest mistake of their lives, Lamberth said.These procedures are harmful, unproven and come with permanent, irreversible and life-changing consequences. States have a compelling interest in protecting minors from adult decisions they arent ready for, Lamberth said.To Lacy, an expert in hormone management, the swirling claims in the media and by some legislators that activists are carelessly pushing dangerous medications on vulnerable adolescents are not true, and are meant to stoke outrage.Actually listen to the patients. Actually listen to the physicians who are providing the care, Lacy said. Youre really seeing people that have a significant improvement in their lives.The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in an appeal by President Joe Bidens administration of a lower courts decision allowing enforcement of the ban, one of 24 such policies enacted by conservative lawmakers around the United States.The plaintiffs challenged the law as a violation of the U.S. Constitutions 14th Amendment promise of equal protection. Bidens administration and other challengers including Lacy contend that banning care for youth with gender dysphoria discriminates against these adolescents based on sex and transgender status.Culture warsThe case brings transgender rights, a major flashpoint in the U.S. culture wars, to the nations highest judicial body just as Republican U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office on Jan. 20. Trump pledged during his election campaign to restrict gender-affirming care and transgender sports participation.Tennessee passed its law in March 2023 after a conservative political commentators criticism of Vanderbilt University Medical Centers transgender health clinic in Nashville went viral on social media, prompting Republican lawmakers to take action.A filing to the Supreme Court by the office of Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, a Republican, justified the states regulation by pointing to scientific uncertainty about the treatments, tightened restrictions on their use in some European countries, and firsthand accounts of regret and harm from people who discontinue or reverse gender-affirming medical intervention.Tennessee has warned of long-term side effects such as diminished bone density or infertility although the law allows these medications to be used to treat minors for any other reason, including congenital defects, precocious puberty or other conditions.A conservative court The Supreme Courts 6-3 conservative majority has steadily moved American law rightward on other contentious issues including abortion, guns and race policies. But in a landmark 2020 ruling authored by conservative Justice Neal Gorsuch, the court declared that a federal law called Title VII that bars discrimination in the workplace also protects gay and transgender employees.If the Supreme Court sides with the challengers, it could rule that Tennessees ban is unconstitutional, or that the lower court must reconsider the state law under a more skeptical standard an outcome that would make it harder for states to pass laws restricting transgender rights.The court could rule that discrimination against people because of their gender identity is sex discrimination subject to heightened scrutiny under the courts precedents, Yale Law School Professor William Eskridge said.Another issue with the law, Eskridge said, is that it denies a small group of Tennesseans access to a fundamental interest the rights of parents to make health decisions for their children.Bidens administration contends that the law singles out transgender people to enforce gender conformity and discourage adolescents from identifying as transgender.Under the law, an adolescent assigned male at birth cannot receive puberty blockers or estrogen to live and present as a female, but an adolescent assigned female at birth can, the Justice Department said in a filing to the Supreme Court, adding: That is sex discrimination.The state has exaggerated the risks of gender-affirming care while ignoring its benefits, the administration said, noting that major U.S. medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association support the therapies for adolescents when deemed clinically necessary.Meanwhile, denying treatment for gender dysphoria can cause psychological harm, with studies showing that up to a third of transgender high school students attempt suicide in a given year, the administration said.Represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, several plaintiffs including two transgender boys, a transgender girl and their parents as well as Lacy sued Skrmetti and other officials to defend the treatments they have said improved their happiness and wellbeing. The Justice Department intervened in the lawsuit.A federal judge blocked the ban in 2023 as likely violating the 14th Amendment. In a 2-1 decision in 2023, the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the judges preliminary injunction.Feeling at peaceLacy began treating transgender patients in 2016. They now make up about a quarter of her practice.The most prevalent thing that (patients) would say is, I finally feel like I can think correctly. I finally feel sort of at peace, Lacy said. I realized, there are many, many, people who need this care. And there are very few physicians that are providing this care.About a year after Lacy began treating these patients, one of her four children now 23 came out as transgender.Deciding to join the legal fight against Tennessees law was easy, Lacy said, not only to share her experience caring for hundreds of transgender patients.But as a parent of a child who went through this, Lacy said, I was compelled from that standpoint.Andrew Chung, Reuters

After announcing he would not return to Congress, Matt Gaetz is trying out a new career path: making personalized videos on Cameo.Gaetz, a former Florida representative, joined the celebrity video message app last week, a day after withdrawing his name from consideration to serve as President-elect Donald Trumps attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations. Gaetz has denied the allegations but cited the distraction as part of his reason for stepping down.Now, hes putting his spare time to good use with paid holiday wishes, marriage congratulations, and career pep talks priced at $550 minimum per video, which so far have averaged about a minute and a half in length. I served in Congress, his Cameo page reads, Trump nominated me to be U.S. Attorney General (that didnt work out). Once I fired the House Speaker. (Gaetz did indeed help engineer the 2023 ouster of former GOP House Speaker House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.)In one video, Gaetz filmed himself congratulating a recipient for making partner at their law firm. Look, I know your politics and mine may not align specifically, but you know, our career trajectories might not be either. I mean, here you are making partner, and my legal career took a little bit of a different turn this last week, Gaetz said. But you know what? Work hard, get paid a lot of money, do a lot of great things as a practitioner and counselor at law, and you know, you never know. You could be an attorney general nominee, too.MATT GAETZ ON CAMEO: "My legal career took a bit of a different turn this last week but you know what? Work hard, make a lot of money, do a lot of great things as a practitioner and councilor at law and, you know, you never know. You could be an Attorney General nominee too." pic.twitter.com/rYq6jLU0D6 Helen Caddes (@helencaddes) November 24, 2024 In another video he offered a pep talk to a web designer struggling at work. Sharing the clip to X, one user commented, Imagine ur buddy is going thru it, super down on life so you cheer him up with a Matt Gaetz cameo vid about how his fungible skills driving connectivity will be great for the AI workforce transition.In recent years, Cameo has become a go-to career move for public figures in need of extra cash. Other notable politicians who turned to Cameo after being ousted from their jobs include Rod Blagojevich, former Illinois governor who was removed from office and incarcerated on charges of public corruption; Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and Trump advisor who was disbarred over false 2020 election claims; and former Rep. George Santos, who was expelled from the House late last year amid allegations of wire fraud and identity theft.I dont care if youre left, right, center, red, blue, black, white, straight, gay or trans, one X user wrote, Matt Gaetz going from Attorney General to Cameo in 48 hours is hilarious & rock bottom.

Chinese brand XGIMI has created a portable projector, which is intended as a design object and also functions as bluetooth speaker with ambient light mode.XGIMI designed the projector as an attractive object with "minimalist industrial design" meaning that it doesn't "need to be hidden away when not in use"."For a long period of time, projectors have been bulky and simply unaesthetic," XGIMI explained.The MoGo 3 Pro is designed to be compact and portableThe MoGo 3 Pro is a smaller and lighter version of XGIMI's RS Pro 3 projector, which was longlisted in last year's Dezeen Awards. It weighs 1.1 kilograms and, at 205 millimetres tall is comparable in size to a Starbucks Venti cup.When not in use the cylindrical object is meant to be discrete and sculptural. To use, the main body swivels and locks in place against an integrated side bracket, with a built-in speaker in the base.Pivoting the main body of the projector against the bracket, allows for a 130-degree rotation to display full HD images up to a 120-inch screen size, either straight or at an angle.The cylindrical projector swivels on a side bracket in order to project, with a speaker at its baseThe base of the unit provides 360-degree surround sound from built-in Harman/Kardon speakers.The projector can also be used as a Bluetooth speaker and paired with smart phones and other devices. An Ambient Light Mode emits diffused coloured light, which can be synced with music.Read: Huawei releases "first-ever" triple-foldable phoneThe projector features image correction technology, ISA 2.0, which automatically corrects keystone distortion and performs autofocus to align the picture to the screen space or projection area, regardless of the projection angle."Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance" software prompts the projector to avoid obstacles, like shelving or windows, and crop to the best projection area available.The goal of the MoGo 3 Pro is to turn "any space into a cinematic venue, whether at home or outdoors", the brand said.The projector can easily be held in one hand and is the same size as a large takeaway coffee cupXGIMI only design and manufacture smart projectors, employing more than 700 R&D engineers at their HQ in Chengdu, China. The brand has over 1,000 patents for their technical innovations and inventions in the projector space.Other smart technology recently featured on Dezeen includes the Galaxy smart ring by Samsungand Apple's latest carbon-neutral smartwatch.The photography is courtesy of XGIMIThe post XGIMI creates smart projector that "doesn't need to be hidden away" appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen School Shows: an app designed to encourage young people to vote is included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at Loughborough University.Also included is a book designed to educate people on cyberbulling and a gaming device for disabled people.Loughborough UniversityInstitution: Loughborough UniversitySchool: School of Design and Creative ArtsCourses: User Experience Design (MSc), User Experience and Service Design (MA), Integrated Industrial Design (MSc) and Graphic Design and Visualisation (MA)Tutors: Dr Simon Downs, Dr Alis Iacob, Dr Andrew May, Dr Christopher Parker and Dr Patrick PradelSchool statement:"At Loughborough School of Design and Creative Arts we strive to deliver a world-class education, developing high-quality graduates who are leading practitioners in their field."Our vision is to educate students to become responsive, persuasive innovators of change, able to instigate creative, intelligent responses to a variety of contemporary challenges."We support students' transition from aspiring talent to confident practitioners through world-class creative arts and design education."Our students embody responsive, innovative and purposeful design by combining cutting-edge research, with exceptional creativity and systemic problem solving."Vividtha by Ayesha Singh Bisen"Vividtha is a campaign to address body image issues among Indian adolescents by promoting self-acceptance and celebrating diversity."Through storytelling, educational initiatives and strategic brand collaborations, Vividtha encourages young people to appreciate their bodies for their functionality rather than appearance."The campaign's branding blends traditional Indian cultural with modern appeal, which is achieved through a bilingual logo, bold typography and vibrant colours inspired by Indian childhood experiences to create a sense of inclusivity and empowerment."At Vividtha's core is a graphic novel featuring relatable characters facing body image challenges."It is designed for adolescents aged 12 to 14, accompanied by interactive workshops in schools that include reflective discussions and group activities, fostering body positivity and mental wellbeing in a supportive environment."Student: Ayesha Singh BisenCourse: Graphics Design and Visualisation (MA)Email: ayesha.bisen[at]gmail.comTutors: Dr Simon Downs and Dr Alis LacobAssimiliaUK by Mehul Shah"Migrant workers who constitute five per cent of the global population and nearly 20 per cent in the UK often face discrimination and social isolation, particularly in critical sectors."This project aims to enhance the societal engagement of Asian migrant workers through a human-centred approach."An iterative process involved two significant pivots and engaged six parties in primary research, brainstorming and prototyping phases that included diverse user perspectives."Key methods included semi-structured interviews, card sorting to prioritise services and a 'hate letter' exercise to identify user frustrations."The project identified two primary insights: the need to connect individuals in similar situations and the demand for a seamless support service."Key features include an events section for booking activities, a unique matching system based on challenges instead of interests and a guide function to help users navigate local culture and services."Student: Mehul ShahCourse: User Experience and Service Design (MA)Email: mehul.dash[at]gmail.comTutor: Dr Vicky LofthouseInterrogation and Visualisation of Cyberbullying by Tianhao Zhao"The Interrogation and Visualisation of Cyberbullying project explores the emotional and psychological impact of online abuse through photography and video, focusing on the victim's experiences and self-objectification."Using monochromatic imagery and strategic colour, the project evokes emotional resonance to raise awareness and encourage positive action among young people and their guardians."A photobook and advocacy video was created to educate and mobilise audiences, highlighting the power of cyberbullying and promoting social awareness to support its prevention and deterrence."Student: Tianhao ZhaoCourse: Graphics Design and Visualisation (MA)Email: 1109560778[at]qq.comTutors: Dr Simon Downs and Dr Alis LacobX-Ten 21st Century Handcuffs by Henry Belsham"X-ten features extendable handcuffs that allow officers to securely 'back cuff' larger non-compliant individuals enhancing safety during high-intensity arrests."These cuffs expand from a compact 290mm to 368mm in under two seconds with one hand, ensuring ease of use, and are made from lightweight aluminium alloy and high-strength stainless steel, featuring a corrosion-resistant PTFE coating for durability and easy cleaning."The X-TEND cuffs are compatible with standard UK police keys and include a proven double-lock mechanism, and user testing indicated that a single, accessible release button is more effective than separate controls."While the protective coating offers various colours, a discreet all-black option is essential for low-profile operations, and a soft, durable TPU cushion can also be integrated into the wrist restraints for comfort and protection."Although strength testing was not feasible due to material access, critical internal components were carefully selected for their strength, with the extension bar and stopper crafted from high-strength stainless steel for durability."Student: Henry BelshamCourse: Integrated Industrial Design (MSc)Email: henrybelsham[at]aol.co.ukTutor: Dr Patrick PradelVote Confidently by Miguel Jose Divo Gonzalez"Young adults in the UK face under-representation at elections due to a multitude of reasons including a lack of participation, engagement and trust towards the government."This has recently been at an all-time low as over 70 per cent of young people believe it's not worth voting at all."Despite this, they all feel inspired to act online so how do we empower them to take that behaviour to the polls?"Vote Confidently focuses on informing, supporting and connecting young adults by offering unbiased, reliable information and trustworthy interaction to become better informed voters."The main three roles of Vote Confidently are to inform with curated short-form modules on topics that matter to the user; support through the assistant's unbiased information and guidance and connect users with shared values to foster an inclusive, collective environment.Student: Miguel Jose Divo GonzalezCourse: User Experience and Service Design (MA)Email: migueldivo11[at]gmail.comTutor: Dr Andrew MayAn Inclusive Gaming Interface (IGI) by Shivangee Tilak"IGI is an inclusive gaming device designed for a wide range of gamers, including those with temporary arm injuries, mild arthritis, single-arm loss, stroke survivors and individuals with spastic cerebral palsy."With an estimated 492 million gamers worldwide including a third of gamers in the UK and US having some form of disability, IGI aims to enhance the gaming experience for those who may face barriers to participation."The equipment features programmable keys, a scroll wheel, a thumb unit with additional buttons and a trackball, all designed for right and left-handed use."The keyboard's adjustable rows increase reachability, accommodating various hand sizes."At the same time, a detachable palm cushion and two wrist cushions reduce discomfort during extended gaming sessions."This flexible design promotes a more enjoyable and social gaming experience, especially for individuals who may feel stigmatised in other contexts."Student: Shivangee TilakCourse: Integrated Industrial Design (MSc)Email: tshivangee[at]gmail.comTutor: Dr Patrick PradelThe Influence of Realistic and Idealised Avatars on Self-Esteem and Plastic Surgery Acceptance in VR by Daria Matsuk"This project examines how avatar design in virtual reality (VR) affects women's self-esteem and attitudes toward plastic surgery, highlighting the need for thoughtful implementation of realistic and idealised avatars."As digital representation grows in social and professional spaces, UX designers must prioritise customisation options and safety in VR dating while enhancing user immersion through natural social interactions, such as eye contact and body language."These considerations are essential for improving user experience and supporting mental health in high-stress environments."Student: Daria MatsukCourse: User Experience Design (MSc)Email: daryamatsuk[at]gmail.comTutors: Dr Christopher J Parker and Dr Panagiotis BalatsoukasAbair Liomsa (Speak to Me) by Clodagh McCarthy"Abair Liomsa (Irish for 'speak to me' and pronounced 'aw-ber lum-sa') is a language acquisition service for young Irish adults who are looking to build their confidence and ability in speaking the Irish language."The service takes the form of a bilingual book club, where users can learn at a self-determined pace, through the progressive translation of each book from English into Irish."It also provides personalised feedback on learning progress and fosters community by connecting a group of people who share an inherent desire to speak their native language."The service aims to equip users with the skills, confidence and support they need to re-engage with the Irish language after leaving second level education in Ireland."Student: Clodagh McCarthyCourse: User Experience and Service Design (MA)Email: clodaghmccarthy99[at]gmail.comTutor: Dr Panagiotis BalatsoukasThe Impact of Sound on Tactile Perception when Shopping in VR Environments by Yi-Tyng Tzeng"This study investigates how enhancing tactile perception can improve the shopping experience in virtual reality (VR), addressing a gap in existing research that predominantly focuses on visual stimuli."As businesses adapt to the rise of virtual retail, it's crucial to recognise that touch significantly influences purchase desire and consumer trust."Findings reveal that inconsistencies between a products sound and appearance such as mismatched audio for high heels and jewellery can lead to confusion and diminished confidence in product authenticity."Ensuring sensory consistency is vital for enhancing user satisfaction and encouraging purchases in VR shopping environments."Student: Yi-Tyng TzengCourse: User Experience Design (MSc)Email: dingding3645[at]gmail.comTutors: Dr Christopher J Parker and Dr Panagiotis BalatsoukasBetter You by Upasana Paul"This project was inspired by my previous experience as an urban planner, where I saw how challenging it was to ensure that user voices were genuinely heard and considered in planning processes."This project, and my motivation for pursuing user experience design, stems from a desire to make design more democratic and people-centric."For this project, I applied a future-state design approach and envisioned the following scenario for the UK in 2040."It's 2040 and the youth in the UK are civically engaged and actively championing causes in their communities."Every young person has the opportunity to connect with their neighbourhood, building meaningful relationships and contributing to a vibrant and harmonious national community."Student: Upasana PaulCourse: User Experience and Service Design (MA)Email: upaul.ux[at]gmail.comTutor: Prof Gary BurnettPartnership contentThis school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Loughborough University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.The post Ten design projects by students at Loughborough University appeared first on Dezeen.