An Envisioning course project exploring how raw data can reflect players back to themselves in new, expressive ways.
Most gaming platforms present performance through charts, tables and rankings. These formats are accurate but feel impersonal. They rarely capture the identity of the player behind the numbers.
The question I explored was: Can gameplay data become a mirror that reflects not only performance, but the unique style and personality of a player?
Challenges
Translating the abstract idea of “identity as data” into a visual reflection.
Choosing the right metrics that truly capture player behavior.
Combining Blender for 3D form generation with web-based interactivity.
Framing the concept so it made sense to both designers and gamers.
Design Process
1. Research & Inspiration
I studied popular analytics platforms like OP.GG and Mobalytics and noticed they lacked an emotional connection. This sparked the idea of treating data as something more personal.
2. Data Mapping
I defined dimensions where each axis could represent an aspect of playstyle:
X = frequency of play
Y = risk versus safety
Z = team versus individual focus
Color spectrum = intensity of behaviors
3. Form Generation
In Blender I created generative 3D surfaces where every curve and detail came from gameplay metrics. The form started to feel like a fingerprint made of data.
4. Visualisation & Animation
I then animated these forms so they rotated and shifted in color, giving the sense of a living mirror that responds to play.
Solutions
Spectra transforms gameplay data into a living Data Mirror.
Instead of static charts or leaderboards, each player receives a unique 3D form that grows directly out of their own playstyle.
Generative 3D Geometry: Metrics like aggression, teamwork, and risk-taking shape the curves, density and scale of the form.
Expressive Color Mapping: Colors shift with intensity, turning abstract numbers into emotional cues (for example, aggressive play burns red, while balanced styles glow green or blue).
Interactive Prototype: The form is not a static render. Players can rotate, zoom and explore it in a web-based demo, treating their data as something personal and tangible.
Aesthetic + Functional: By blending design and generative art, Spectra positions itself between analytics and self-expression. It is both a tool and an artifact.
Impact
Spectra reframed what gameplay data could mean: not just performance tracking, but identity reflection.
Emotional Response: In user tests, players felt ownership of their form. Many described it as “recognizable,” “personal,” and even “artistic.”
New Perspective: Instead of reducing play to a score, the project gave players a mirror that celebrated their individuality.
Academic Recognition: Spectra was highlighted in the Envisioning course as a speculative design experiment pushing the boundaries of data-driven storytelling.
Design Learning: Demonstrated how abstract concepts like identity and selfhood can be explored through interaction and visualization.
Future Potential: Opened the door to applying this concept beyond games: in fitness, learning, or any context where data could mirror personal growth.
