Avatar for the people: A co-creative, community-based approach to designing digital humans

The use of digital human avatars (DHAs) is rapidly increasing around the world. Traditionally employed in video games, they are finding new applications in fashion, advertising, public entertainment, and other markets. Previous research suggested that DHAs can engage diverse communities of users, but it is still unclear how specific design decisions can affect their engagement. There is a need for more research and guidelines on the design and development of digital humans to effectively utilise them for various applications and to reach new audiences. In this thesis, I examine the benefits of implementing collaborative design strategies in creating DHAs to serve different user communities. My research aims to answer two questions: 1) What are the advantages of a co-creative approach when designing DHAs? 2) How can co-design strategies be integrated into the production of DHAs in community-based projects?

To address these questions, I draw upon the results of three separate creative investigations involving the design and animation of interactive digital humans for different user communities. Each of these projects incorporated some form of creative collaboration and community consultation, providing a rich and diverse set of data to draw upon. For my first creative investigation, I designed and animated a virtual ambassador for an online wildlife conservation campaign run by a local city council. For my second project, I focused on creating a virtual host for a community film festival. For my last project, I worked as part of a larger research team to develop a smart sign language assistant for the local Deaf community. Each project required a unique approach to addressing the needs and expectations of the target community.

By combining aspects of practice-based research through design and co-design methodologies, my investigations provide new insights for designers and researchers looking to incorporate DHAs in community programs or campaigns. The result of this three-year doctoral research is a practical model for designing and animating DHAs based on feedback loops and active collaboration between the creator, the end user, and other stakeholders. I hope that my findings will contribute to a better understanding of the value of co-design in digital avatar production and will encourage the use of co-design strategies in future digital human projects.