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The futuristic world with metallic cyber plants

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The futuristic world with metallic cyber plants

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Content THE FUTURISTIC WORLD WITH METALLIC CYBER PLANTS
by
Xiang Guo
A Thesis Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC ROSKI SCHOOL OF ART AND DESIGN
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
MASTER OF FINE ARTS
(DESIGN)
May 2024
Copyright 2024 Xiang Guo

Acknowledgments
Throughout the process of writing this thesis, I received support and help from a lot of
people.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Ewa Wojciak, Professor Brian
O’Connell, Professor Laurie Burruss, who are all members of my thesis committee. Your
professional knowledge has given me valuable suggestions throughout my entire learning and
design process, and has played an invaluable role in improving the level of my design works. In
addition you all have provided me with professional guidance during the thesis stage and pointed
me in the right direction, making both my design works and thesis successful.
I also wish to extend my deep gratitude to my parents and my brother for their endless
support and love, which enable me to persevere with confidence.
Furthermore, I’d like to show my gratitude to my friends, Xuege and Ziqi, who have
given me much encouragement in research and spirit.
Finally, I want to show special thanks to my dog and cats for giving me plenty of joy
during this period.
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgments...........................................................................................................................ii
List of Figures.................................................................................................................................iv
Abstract...........................................................................................................................................vi
Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1
Chapter 1: Origin of the Project...................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Environmental Pollution and Effect of Nature...................................................... 4
1.2 Inspirations of Future Scenarios and Cyberpunk Aesthetics.................................7
1.3 Museum of Cooling Sustainability Project..........................................................11
Chapter 2: Development of Storytelling Concepts........................................................................14
2.1 Processes and Approach to Designing a Virtual Space....................................... 14
2.2 Creation of Experiences through Graphic Design and Storytelling.................... 15
Chapter 3: Methodology: Virtual Space Video..............................................................................22
3.1 Detailed Modeling of Metallic Plants..................................................................22
3.2 The Construction of Futuristic Cyberpunk Cities in the Video........................... 28
3.3 Dynamic Camera Movements and Cinematic Effects.........................................34
Chapter 4: Methodology: Comprehensive Encyclopedia and Derivative Products...................... 44
4.1 Encyclopedia Design: Layout and Content.......................................................... 44
4.2 Other Derivative Product......................................................................................50
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................... 52
Bibliography.................................................................................................................................. 54
iii

List of Figures
Figure 1: Schematic representation of different pollutants behavior towards plants..................... 5
Figure 2: Impacts of vehicular pollution on plants.........................................................................6
Figure 3: Screenshot of Plants Blight in Interstellar......................................................................9
Figure 4: Screenshot of Blade Runner .........................................................................................10
Figure 5: The Core Element and Pattern of the Museum............................................................. 12
Figure 6: The Branding Design of the Museum .......................................................................... 13
Figure 7: The screenshot of Ghost in the Shell ............................................................................16
Figure 8: Digitized and Intelligent City Gradually Take Shape in Modeling...............................17
Figure 9: Modeling One of the Metallic-Cyber Plants, Blue Flower........................................... 18
Figure 10: Modeling One of the Metallic-Cyber Plants, Silver Flower....................................... 18
Figure 11: With the Gap Between Rich and Poor, the Streets Where the Lower Class Mainly
Live in the Modeling of Future City..............................................................................................19
Figure 12: Metallic Plants Garden Surrounded by Dilapidated Building.................................... 20
Figure 13: The Construction of Future City is Predominantly Depicted as Dark and Decadent. 21
Figure 14: Metallic Plants with Their Unique Structures and Appearances ............................... 22
Figure 15: The Screen Shot of Modeling Metallic Cyber Flower................................................24
Figure 16: Using Metallic Materials as the Shells of the Plants...................................................26
Figure 17: Metallic Cyber Trees and Bushes............................................................................... 26
Figure 18: The Brightness of Metallic Plants...............................................................................27
Figure 19: Building in the Future City Exhibit a Dilapidated State............................................. 28
Figure 20: The Screen Shot of Modeling Futuristic Cyberpunk City ......................................... 30
Figure 21: Impoverished Dwellings are Concentrated Near the Public Metallic Plant Garden...31
iv

Figure 22: Some Dilapidated Buildings in Modeling of Futuristic City...................................... 32
Figure 23: Panoramic View of Futuristic City in the Evening..................................................... 33
Figure 24: The Beginning of Blade Runner................................................................................. 35
Figure 25.1: The Storyboard of Panoramic Video of Futuristic City .......................................... 36
Figure 25.2: The Storyboard of Panoramic Video of Futuristic City........................................... 37
Figure 25.3: The Storyboard of Panoramic Video of Futuristic City........................................... 38
Figure 26: Unfocused City Silhouette.......................................................................................... 38
Figure 27: Future City with Low-lighting and High-contrast Style............................................. 40
Figure 28: The Metallic Plant Garden.......................................................................................... 41
Figure 29.1: The Details One of the Metallic Cyber Plants......................................................... 42
Figure 29.2: The Details One of the Metallic Cyber Plants......................................................... 42
Figure 30: At the End of the Video, Returning to the Panoramic View of the City.....................43
Figure 31: The Image of Word Compendium Book of Cyberpunk 2077 Game.......................... 45
Figure 32: The Magazine Binding Style and Print....................................................................... 45
Figure 33: The Front Cover of the Book...................................................................................... 47
Figure 34: The Reference of Layout Design of the Book............................................................ 48
Figure 35: Encyclopedia Internal Layout Design.........................................................................49
Figure 36: Derivative Product Design.......................................................................................... 51
v

Abstract
The Futuristic World With Metallic Cyber Plants
Xiang Guo
As science and technology advance, human beings are increasingly demanding and
exploiting natural resources. This negative behavior has led to ever more serious ecological
issues such as environmental pollution and resource depletion. Consequently, I chose to set my
thesis design projects backstory in an extreme future of progressively severe environmental
pollution. In this imagined future world, the extinction of traditional natural vegetation has
caused irreversible damage to the earth's ecosystem. Human beings had no choice but to invent
metal plants to replace traditional plants. But ultimately, people found that the situation of the
ecosystem had not improved, so this future cyber city was gradually discarded.
The core of this project is to design and build a future city without traditional plants,
presenting the audience with a virtual future that is left behind after the destruction of the natural
environment and ecosystem. This project unveils to the audience the landscape of future cities
and metal plants, through a panoramic video. A comprehensive encyclopedia provides
supplemental explanation about the structure of future cities, human living conditions and the
role of metal plants in the future. Also included are cards featuring specific plants and
information about their function. In the world depicted in the video and book, human’s living
environment will become extremely harsh in the future due to the extinction of traditional plants,
and even with metal plants, the restoration effect thereof on the environment will be minimal.
This project aims to underline the profound impact of environmental pollution and plant
extinction wreaked by industrial development on human society and ecosystems by imagining a
terrible future cyberworld without traditional plants. I designed this world in order to alert people
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to re-examine the dilemma of ecological crisis, advocate environmental protection and raise
people's awareness of sustainable development.
Keywords: Environmental Pollution, Modeling, Video Installation, Book Design, Sustainability
vii

Introduction
In today’s era, saturated with constant environmental challenges, the future of ecosystems
in the natural world is at risk. The earth, the home to human survival, is facing an unprecedented
crisis, which threatens the essence of human life. This crisis is environmental pollution.
Environmental degradation has a lethal impact on plant growth as well as the stability and health
of the entire ecosystem. This dangerous force is erasing the diversity of traditional vegetation
from the earth. In the science fiction film The Day After Tomorrow, director Roland Emmerich
presented the earth's disaster caused by the greenhouse effect, ecological destruction, and the
earth's return to the disasters of the Ice Age.1 Although the doomsday scene rendered in the
science fiction literary and artistic work is just a speculative work, it cannot be ignored that
climate change is a daily reality today. Along with the advancement of science and technology,
nature is a source of industrial production and means of life. Human beings seek, develop and
transform nature by virtue of their intellectual powers. The ecological issues of environmental
pollution, ecological disasters, resource depletion, etc. on vegetation, agriculture, economy, and
human society not only dissect the relationship between humans and nature internally, but also
probe into the importance of artistic practice in activating human consciousness in the public
domain externally.
This project sets the background in a future where environmental pollution has become
increasingly severe. In the future world, traditional natural vegetation is now extinct and
profoundly affects the earth's landscape. Humans live in a bizarre and surreal world that lacks the
vitality that once existed when plants thrived. This project showcases a new reality, in which
1 The Day After Tomorrow, directed by Roland Emmerich (2004; Los Angeles, CA: Twentieth Century Fox, 2004),
DVD.
1

artificially synthesized items such as metals dominate and replace the role of traditional plants.
Meanwhile, it is rendered in a cyberpunk-style — a contradictory world full of future scenarios
but lacking human touch, which stands in stark contrast to today's ecological environment.
The core of this project is creating a virtual space without traditional plants, thereby
bringing the audience into a virtual future where the environment is polluted and reimagined.
This piece is also a city-view video created for the non-existent future world and serves as a
warning to the audience. The project provides people with an opportunity to observe the
replacement of traditional organic plants with artificial plants. The video underlines the
importance of the environment and ecology to human society by showing artificial worldviews
and plant modeling. It delves into the social ecology and human spiritual ecology through the
representation of natural ecology, triggering the audience's reflection on today’s phenomenon
about environmental pollution.
Furthermore, in order to provide the audience with a more detailed and comprehensive
understanding of metallic plants and the futuristic cyberpunk city, this project provides a
comprehensive encyclopedia on metallic plants and futuristic cities. This encyclopedia covers all
aspects of these artificial metal plants, including their origin, function and potential ecological
impact on the world. It also covers the futuristic city's structure, the lives of future inhabitants,
and the status of the entire city after its abandonment. At the same time, the encyclopedia serves
as an educational resource to encourage reflection on the environmental challenges facing
society today and the urgent need for sustainable practices. Other collateral products such as
cards are available for the audience as gifts or souvenirs, and encourage the audience to reflect
on the relationship between humans and nature.
2

The design work presented as part of this thesis includes: design concepts, creative
processes, potential motivations, and an examination of the expected impact of this project. My
work seeks to reflect on people's values on the environment, resources, and development,
re-examine the dilemma of ecological crisis, and form efficient and sustainable utilization of
resources. Confronted with numerous ecological issues of globalization, the project is not only a
recorder of objective history but also a medium that intervenes as social criticism. It is my hope
that this project evokes people’s emotional resonance and brings awareness to ecological issues.
3

Chapter 1: Origin of the Project
The rapid development of human society, especially the dramatic changes since the
Industrial Revolution, have caused continuous damage to the natural ecology of the earth,
making the earth increasingly fragile, which is irreversible and permanent. Environmental
pollution is generally divided into three categories: air pollution, water pollution, and solid waste
pollution. These pollutants cause direct damage and impact on ecosystems, such as
desertification and forest destruction, while also doing indirect harm to human society.
Sometimes the hazard of the indirect environmental effect outweighs the direct harm caused at
that time making it more difficult to eliminate. For example, the greenhouse effect, acid rain, and
ozone layer destruction are the environmental effects derived from atmospheric pollution. Such
an environmental effect spawned by environmental pollution has a lag and is often hard to detect
or anticipate at the time of its occurrence. Nonetheless, once it occurs, environmental pollution
has developed to a considerable extent. Serious pollution incidents not only bring health
problems, but also cause social problems. Art and design can become a medium for
understanding and emphasizing environmental issues, as well as social roles and care. The
design of this project aims to explore and discuss current ecological issues.
1.1 Environmental Pollution and Its Effect on Nature
The First Industrial Revolution was driven by the power revolution, where steam power
replaced animal power. Environmental pollution is largely air pollution, that is carbon dioxide,
dust, and sulfur-containing gasses caused by coal combustion. Air pollutants released by various
human and natural processes pose a grave threat to the environment and human health. As shown
in Figure 1, high concentrations of dust and gaseous pollutants will be absorbed by plants,
causing damage to their physiology and morphology.
4

Figure 1: Akshay Kumar Singh et al., “Schematic representation of different pollutants behavior
towards plants,” in kshay Kumar Singh et al., “Environmental Impacts of Air Pollution and Its
Abatement by Plant Species: A Comprehensive Review,” Environmental Science and Pollution
Research 30, no. 33 (2023): 79590, fig. 1,
https://uosc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01USC_INST/273cgt/cdi_pubmed_primary_373
22401.
As shown in Fig. 2., some common effects of pollutants on plants include rate of decrease
in photosynthetic activity, foliar damage, necrosis in tissues, chlorophyll decreases, biomass
decreases, necrosis disorder in fruits, effect on leaves anatomy, stomata clogging, rate of adsorption of radiation, impact on species diversity, and length of petiole decreases and reduce the
growth of fruits and flowers.2
2 Akshay Kumar Singh et al., “Environmental Impacts of Air Pollution and Its Abatement by Plant Species: A Comprehensive
Review,” Environmental Science and Pollution Research 30, no. 33 (2023): 79589.
5

Figure 2: Akshay Kumar Singh et al., “Impacts of vehicular pollution on plants,” in kshay Kumar
Singh et al., “Environmental Impacts of Air Pollution and Its Abatement by Plant Species: A
Comprehensive Review,” Environmental Science and Pollution Research 30, no. 33 (2023):
79591, fig. 2,
https://uosc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01USC_INST/273cgt/cdi_pubmed_primary_373
22401.
Apart from electrification, the Second Industrial Revolution also carried out material
development, and hence, the chemical industry burgeoned, leading to severe water pollution.
With the development of industrial and agricultural production and the concentration of urban
population, loads of industrial wastewater and domestic sewage containing a variety of pollutants
were discharged into the water system, wreaking water pollution. Metal pollutants in water
damage the cytoplasmic membrane of plants, affect their water and mineral metabolism, and
cause plant growth to be inhibited or even withered.3 Furthermore, a large amount of industrial
waste and excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers also caused critical soil pollution. Irrigating
farmland with sewage results in the deposition of toxic substances in the soil, and under the force
of gravity or with rain or snow, atmospheric pollutants fall upon the surface and seep down into
the soil, all of which cause soil pollution. Contaminated soil leads to yellowing, withering and
3 Chunxia Zhang, Appel Erwin and Qiao Qingqing, “Heavy Metal Pollution in Farmland Irrigated with River Water Near a Steel
Plant-Magnetic and Geochemical Signature,” Geophysical journal international 192, no. 3 (2013): 963–974.
6

other phenomena in the leaves of plants, and in severe cases, plant death. In addition, the growth
cycle of plants is affected. These directly influence the yield and quality of plants, giving rise to
heavy losses to agricultural production.4
Environmental pollution is a type of ecological destruction, while biodiversity functions
as the environmental foundation on which human society relies for survival and development.
Due to the aforementioned mainstream pollution, the living environment of plants in the
ecosystem becomes awfully harsh, and the number of plants on earth dwindles. When forests
turn into deserts, the habitats of animals are also devastated. The most significant reason for the
rapid increase in population and the decrease in biodiversity is that the ecosystem deviates from
its natural state under natural or human interference, the environment is polluted, and organisms
lose their homes. Over the long term, environmental pollution will affect the structure and
function of various levels of the ecosystem, thus leading to ecosystem degradation, which is a
catastrophic disaster for plants, animals, humans, and even the entire earth.
1.2 Inspiration from Future Scenarios and Cyberpunk Aesthetics
Nowadays, films depicting the future of the world are plentiful. Most have a worldview
dominated by highly developed technology and a genre of science fiction termed cyberpunk.
Numerous science fiction films, however, reveal a strong "anti-utopian" sentiment, focusing on
concerns and fears about the "unhappiness" of the future society. This means that under the
proliferation of technology, modern civilization contains factors of self destruction. Looking at
the American apocalyptic science fiction films, it is not hard to find that many have exhibited a
more or less critical thinking of ecologism. They attempt to awaken people's awareness of
industrial civilization by showing the negative impact of resource depletion and ecological crisis
4 Pratibha Singh, Singh Sunita Kumari and Prasad Sheo Mohan, eds, Plant Responses to Soil Pollution, 1st ed. 2020 (Gateway
East, Singapore: Springer, 2020), 1-26.
7

on humanity in the apocalyptic world. These movie scenarios serve to warn people in order to
educate them with a scientifically correct view of nature as well as to respect, protect and
coexist harmoniously with nature. The film Godzilla tells the story of ancient organisms mutated
by human nuclear pollution.5
It conveys to the audience a concept that without excessive human
industrial activities, these animals would not have undergone such glaring mutations. Yet,
human’s undue abuse of technology ultimately leads to retaliation from natural beings. The
science fiction film Interstellar, which delineates the future world, is a typical example.6 The
root cause of the apocalyptic disaster lies in plants. The imminent extinction of human beings is
due to the prevalence of plant blight, which results in a large-scale drop in crop yields. As seen
from the screenshot (Figure 3) of the film, due to the reduction of plants, most of the earth is
covered by yellow sand. The food shortage and oxygen depletion caused by plants puts all
human beings on the brink of starvation and suffocation. Although the film does not clearly
explain the specific reasons for the deterioration of the ecological environment, the audience
easily understands the relationship between the occurrence of ecological disasters and human
beings from the information covered in the film and the visualization of pollution in today's
society. Furthermore, the film also highlights the harm to humanity resulting from land
desertification, which is precisely the problems faced in today's society. Industrial progress is
accompanied by environmental damage, begetting a decrease in plant diversity and posing a
threat to the entire ecosystem.
Hence, my design project sets the future world in a situation where all traditional plants
are extinct and the metal plants manufactured by humans replace the role and function of
traditional plants, as it describes the living environment that humans face in this situation.
6
Interstellar, directed by Christopher Nolan (2014; United States: Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary
Entertainment, Syncopy Inc, 2014), DVD.
5 Godzilla, directed by Ishirō Honda (1954; Nagoya, Japan: Toho Co., Ltd., 1954), DVD.
8

Figure 3: Screenshot of Plants Blight in Interstellar, directed by Christopher Nolan, Interstellar
(United States: Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Entertainment, Syncopy
Inc, 2014), DVD.
The inspiration for shaping the worldview of the future world in this project stems from
another classic film, Blade Runner.
7 The dominating visual style in this film is "cyberpunk". The
combination of cyber and punk is the "traitor of information technology", which is both an idea
of the future and a unique artistic style. The description of the future world in the film is
high-tech, but lacks a sense of humanity. The highly developed technology fails to bring utopian
happiness to humanity. On the contrary, because technology is in the hands of a few people or
large powerful companies, this gap actually exacerbates human mutual oppression and division.
In the meantime, most of the earth's land is covered with high-rise buildings and equipped with
dazzling neon lights and screens. Under the shadow of this technological visual effect, various
dirty, poor, and dark corners in the metropolis are revealed. Such scenarios are ubiquitous in the
film, like the contrast between the large screen and the dark night displayed in the film
screenshots (Figure 4). The sharp contrast between the sense of technology and dark corners is
7 Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott (1982; United States: Warner Bros. Pictures, 1982), DVD.
9

an indispensable element in the future world of cyberpunk. The social environment created in the
film is an excellent example of cyberpunk, which is "high tech, low life".
Figure 4: Screenshot of Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott, Blade Runner (United States:
Warner Bros. Pictures, 1982), DVD.
This is one of the core worldviews rendered to the audience in this project. This world
background setting expresses the idea that even with the development of technology, human life
is not happy. With the widespread popularity of computers, people have inevitably predicted a
negative impact due to technology, giving rise to the cyberpunk or dystopian style. The social
environment in Blade Runner is what people most fear. With continuous heavy rain day and
night, the city is full of dirty and chaotic remnants, and the atmosphere of despair hangs over the
low-pressure city. Later science fiction films such as Ghost in the Shell8 and The Matrix9 are
filled with cyberpunk elements. Therefore, the cyberpunk series generally holds a pessimistic
attitude towards the development of human technology, a belief that humanity is eventually
9 The Matrix, directed by The Wachowskis (1999; Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures, Groucho II Film
Partnership, Silver Pictures, 1999), DVD.
8 Ghost in the Shell, directed by Mamoru Oshii (1995; Japan: Production I.G, Bandai Visual Co., Ltd., Manga Entertainment,
1995), DVD.
10

enslaved by technology. The ultimate goal of these movies is to awaken people's rational
understanding of technological development.
1.3 Museum of Cooling Sustainability Project
Environmental protection and sustainability have many aspects that warrant artistic
response. Prior to this project, I designed a number of projects on the topic of sustainability. The
Museum of Cooling is a design project set in the context of global warming. Due to the
uncontrolled use of air-conditioners by human beings, the refrigerants in air-conditioners have
damaged the ozone layer of the earth. At the same time, the emission of various types of
greenhouse gasses has led to a gradual increase in global temperatures which shows a gradual
increase in temperatures over time each year. The temperature difference between summer and
winter is increasing, especially in the summer when temperatures in many inland areas reach as
high as forty degrees Celsius, a stark contrast to the Earth's summer temperatures a decade ago.
Yet many people are not able to use traditional physical cooling methods such as air conditioners
or fans to relieve themselves in such hot environments. As a response to this phenomenon, I
designed a way to feel cooler through visual elements.
Cooling with visual elements is more environmentally friendly and sustainable than
traditional physical cooling. For example, the light blue color or the light yellow color of lemons
makes people feel cooler on a psychological level. Based on this premise, I designed the Museum
of Cooling. The museum creates a cool atmosphere in the form of design. The project, targeted
for all age groups, is intended to be visually and mentally refreshing, and to give people a sense
of coolness when the heat is high. The core element and pattern of the museum is the light blue
ice cube, as seen in Figure 5. The visual design revolves around things that make people feel
cool in the summer, such as ice-cold soda, lemon, ice cream and watermelon. These visual
11

elements are combined with colors to allow viewers to feel spiritually cooling under these
designs.
The design of the entire project includes the museum’s brand design and various
promotional products. The final work is shown in Figure 6. The museum project is an example of
my reflections on the topic of sustainable design and my vision for the future. The design
continues the research on the topic of environmental protection and sustainability. With the
research and support of the museum project, my current thesis gained a clearer direction on how
to express concerns about environmental pollution more accurately.
Figure 5: The Core Element and Pattern of the Museum. By Xiang Guo.
12

Figure 6: The Branding Design of the Museum. By Xiang Guo.
13

Chapter 2: Development of Storytelling Concepts
This project presents the future scenes after environmental pollution in the form of videos
supplemented by books and posters to explain this future city’s setting further. My goal is to
stimulate the audience’s thoughts and resonance through diverse storytelling concepts.
2.1 Basic Setting of the Future World
In the research phase of this project, I delved into the current situation of environmental
pollution, the trend of plant extinction, and cyberpunk culture as the foundation and conceptual
framework for the creation and design of this project. In the context of worsening environmental
pollution, the growth environment for traditional plants has become increasingly harsh. Crutzen
mentioned in his article Geology of Mankind that human activities drive the Earth into a new
geological era dominated by humans.10 This indicates that the current actions of humanity have
caused an irreversible situation in terms of environmental impact. One of the signs of this era is
the disruption of ecosystems, with traditional plants being an indispensable part of the ecosystem
being deeply affected.
Based on the current state of Earth’s environment, this project is set in a future where
severe pollution has resulted in the extinction of traditional plants. This future represents an
extreme vision of environmental degradation and a potential trajectory for Earth's development.
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report underscores ecosystems’ significance and
profound impact on human society and the economy. It highlights the essential services provided
by vegetation, water resources, and the atmosphere within ecosystems11
. Vegetation cover is
irreplaceable in regulating climate, water cycles, and soil health, thus playing a crucial role in
11 World Resources Institute, Ecosystem and Human Well-Being - Synthesis, (2005): 49-54,
https://wedocs.unep.org/20.500.11822/8701
10 Paul J. Crutzen, “Geology of Mankind,” Nature 415, no. 6867 (2002): 23, https://doi.org/10.1038/415023a.
14

sustaining the necessary environment for human survival. Consequently, even with the extinction
of traditional plants in this future scenario, humans have engineered artificial metal mechanical
plants as substitutes to fulfill the ecological functions of vegetation. The in-depth examination of
vegetation in the report offers scientific support for the design of metal cybernetic plants,
facilitating a more realistic simulation of their role in urban ecology.
The foundational concept revolves around the extinction and disappearance of
conventional plants. This premise directly confronts the urgent environmental issues in our
society and reflects concerns regarding ecological sustainability. By selecting this framework,
the project intensifies viewers’ awareness of environmental matters and fosters a stronger
commitment to environmental protection. Additionally, it establishes a scientific basis for the
narrative backdrop and artistic expression in future projects.
2.2 Story Setting of the Future World
With the plant extinction seen as the premise, this project constructs a narrative that
depicts a future world devoid of plants as they are known today. With the intensification of
environmental pollution, the survival of traditional plants is perilous and gradually leads to their
extinction, pushing the urban ecosystems on Earth to the brink of collapse. In order to address
this challenge, humanity needs to address this crisis and develop alternatives to conventional
plants. Consequently, technological research has become crucial in human society. The
development of technology, especially advancements in information technology and
biotechnology, provides ample means for creating my vision of a cyberpunk world.
In this virtual future city, natural greenery is almost non-existent, and skyscrapers and
high-tech devices dominate the entire cityscape. This city setting is inspired by the depiction of a
15

digitized city in the anime Ghost in the Shell and presents an extraordinary spectacle.12 As shown
in screenshots from the animation (Figure 7), electronic screens and projections emitting vibrant
colors fill the high-rise buildings of the cyber city while the architecture and roads intertwine like
complex virtual network routes. In my future world, human technology advances rapidly, leading
people to put blind trust in technology and rely on it to solve various problems. As a result,
digitized and intelligent cities gradually take shape, as depicted in the Figure 8, where the city is
filled with various high-rise buildings, electronic screens, and abundant high-tech products.
Figure 7: The screenshot of Ghost in the Shell, directed by Mamoru Oshii, Ghost in the Shell
(Japan: Production I.G, Bandai Visual Co., Ltd., Manga Entertainment, 1995), DVD.
However, the extinction of traditional plants causes many problems in this future.
Anomalies in weather patterns, declining air quality, and ecological disruptions are evident.
Recognizing the need for a substitute to fulfill the roles of plants, scientists develop artificial
vegetation, aimed at reconstructing urban ecosystems and alleviating environmental issues.
Through their relentless efforts, cyber-metallic plants are created. Inspired in part by Bruce
Sterling’s novel “Mirrorshades,” humans and technology are tightly integrated, and digital
12 Ghost in the Shell, directed by Mamoru Oshii (1995; Japan: Production I.G, Bandai Visual Co., Ltd., Manga Entertainment,
1995), DVD.
16

advancements play a critical role in daily life.13 This project incorporates elements from the book
to depict a society where technology intertwines with life. In this future world, scientists strive to
merge machinery and life by creating a new type of plant and integrating it into society. The
concept of cyber-metallic plants draws inspiration from the novel’s emphasis on the impact of
technological progress on social structures and individual identity. These cyber-metallic plants
not only emulate the growth processes of traditional plants but also possess additional functions.
The novel explores the fusion of humanity and technology, highlighting the significance of
digital technologies in people’s everyday lives and the repercussions of technological
advancement on societal structures and individual identities. The cyber-metallic plants in this
future setting mimic conventional plants’ growing processes and exhibit more complex
movements. For example, they purify the air and emit light. In urban planning, these artificial
plants are integrated into public spaces and buildings, creating a scene where ecology coexists
with technology, as depicted in the images 9-10. Within the intricate cityscape, the cyber-metallic
plants intertwine with architecture, forming a surreal urban landscape.
Figure 8: Digitized and Intelligent City Gradually Take Shape in Modeling. By Xiang Guo.
13 Bruce Sterling, Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology (London: HarperCollins Publishers, 1994).
17

Figure 9: Modeling One of the Metallic-Cyber Plants, Blue Flower. By Xiang Guo.
Figure 10: Modeling One of the Metallic-Cyber Plants, Silver Flower. By Xiang Guo.
18

The extensive use of metallic plants within the cities, allows Earth to gradually regain a
semblance of ecological balance. However, such practices do not address the root causes, and
these artificial creations cannot replace all that was lost. The world is still slowly heading
towards destruction. People living in this world become aware of this situation. Some individuals
adopt a despairing attitude and engage in passive resistance, while others strive to actively
change the status quo. At this point, nation-states vanish, and technology monopolies control
wealth. The polarization of cities intensifies, and societal systems collapse, leading to decay and
violence. Behind the facade of a seemingly glamorous city, a dark aura pervades. The
disappearance of traditional plants and the introduction of metallic plants renders society lifeless,
devoid of any human affect. Without the presence of green ecology, an obsession with
technology ultimately leads to a rigid society where wealth disparity widens and suppression of
human nature is prevalent.
Figure 11: With the Gap Between Rich and Poor, the Streets Where the Lower Class Mainly Live
in the Modeling of Future City. By Xiang Guo.
19

Figure 12: Metallic Plants Garden Surrounded by Dilapidated Building. By Xiang Guo.
Gradually, the supply of metal plants in this city is unable to keep up with people's
demand, and most humans find that the role of traditional plants cannot be replaced. Therefore,
rich powerful people decide to search for and build new cities to restore the ecological balance,
which means that this original city is gradually abandoned, as shown in Figure 12. Because metal
plants provide oxygen and light, the lower classes gather here, and their lives are closely
connected to the remaining public metal plants areas, which are essential supply centers for their
daily lives. However, even so, the amount of oxygen that metal plants provide is not enough, so
the health status of residents is generally poor. The entire city presents a scene of stillness, with
high-rise buildings becoming dilapidated due to lack of maintenance, and only public metal
plants being maintained and shining brightly in the city. Therefore, the construction of the future
city is predominantly depicted as dark and decadent, as shown in Figure 13. The core of the
conceptual design and background story is focused on an integration of technology and
20

ecological issues. It aims to demonstrate to the audience how technology not only shapes nature
but also alters the structure of society, human lifestyles, and values. Simultaneously,
cyber-metallic plants in the city prompt viewers to contemplate how humanity will make
ethically sound choices when faced with ecological problems.
The storyline of this project is based on current environmental issues, aiming to provoke
the audience’s contemplation on the symbiotic relationship between technology and nature
through imaginative world-building and design. It seeks to stimulate discussions on whether
humanity should depend solely on technology or strive for a balance between development and
environmental protection. The reconfiguration of future urban ecological environments expresses
my personal concerns for solving contemporary environmental pollution issues and accessing
sustainable development.
Figure 13: The Construction of Future City is Predominantly Depicted as Dark and Decadent. By
Xiang Guo.
21

Chapter 3: Virtual Space Video
A panoramic video shows the audiences a futuristic cyberpunk city with metal plants.
The narrative unfolds by visualizing the coexistence of metal plants, humans, and the city from
various perspectives and trajectories. It seeks to show how people live in the future when all
traditional plants are extinct.
3.1 Detailed Modeling of Metallic Plants
Figure 14: Metallic Plants with Their Unique Structures and Appearances. By Xiang Guo.
Metallic plants play an integral role in this futuristic city. Due to environmental pollution,
traditional plants disappear, prompting the need for the design and development of metallic
plants to maintain the ecological balance. The public metallic plant gardens in the city are crafted
by scientists and engineers of the time, aiming to provide oxygen and illumination in public
areas. These metallic plants, with their unique structures and functions, are the foundations for
human survival in a world without traditional plants, as shown in Figure 14. In designing and
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constructing these plants, I considered the functions of metallic plants and how to integrate their
appearance with these features during the modeling process. These plants are examples of future
ecological engineering masterpieces and reflect humanity's pursuit of sustainable development.
However, since the project primarily focuses on artistic creation, the functions of some metallic
cyber plants are primarily speculative, inspired by existing scientific data and research.
The role played by metallic plants is mult-faceted, with the most crucial being oxygen
generation and air purification. These metallic mechanical plants simulate the process of
photosynthesis in natural plants and, with the integration of their own solar energy sources,
convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugars. This technology references relevant
research published in the journal Nature, where artificial photosynthesis utilizes solar energy to
convert raw materials such as water and carbon dioxide into useful chemical substances like
hydrogen and hydrocarbons.14 Such a process provides necessary oxygen for the city while also
purifying the air from pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfides, and others. The invention
and establishment of metallic mechanical plants not only improve the air quality of the city but
also alleviate the environmental harm caused by industrial emissions. In addition to simulating
photosynthesis, these plants collect solar energy through their surrounding materials, enabling
them to emit light at night, becoming part of the luminous system in the future city. Moreover,
the energy collected by metallic plants provides a small amount of additional energy for the city,
supplying electricity to surrounding houses and communities. Another significant function of the
metallic plants is their ability to perform simple detection and regulation of the surrounding
environment. These artificial mechanical plants are equipped with sensors for temperature and
humidity, allowing them to detect environmental changes and adjust accordingly. Similar
14 Dohyung Kim, Sakimoto K. Kelsey, Hong Dachao and Yang Peidong, “Artificial Photosynthesis for Sustainable Fuel and
Chemical Production,” Angewandte Chemie (International ed.) 54, no. 11 (2015): 3259.
23

techniques are mentioned in the paper, Design of Plants for Solar Desalination Using The
Multi-stag Heating/Humidifying Technique, which utilizes solar heating of air streams and
humidifying hot air by contact with seawater.
15 The environmental regulation function of
metallic plants in the future city is based on this technology, where metallic mechanical plants
generate electricity and heat or cool the surrounding air through their own solar energy systems.
Additionally, these plants adjust the absorption of heat by changing the direction and reflectivity
of their metallic leaves to alter the surrounding temperature. Despite the many functions of
metallic plants, their inability to be mass-produced and autonomously grow means they never
fully replace the role of traditional plants in the ecosystem. This ultimately leads to the gradual
decline of the entire future city.
Figure 15: The Screen Shot of Modeling Metallic Cyber Flower. By Xiang Guo.
15 Efat Chafik, “Design of Plants for Solar Desalination Using the Multi-Stag Heating/Humidifying Technique,” Desalination 168
(2004): 55–71.
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These mechanical metallic cyber plants in the future city serve not only as a safeguard for
human lives but also as symbols of future ecology, technology, and culture. Therefore, in using
Blender software for the design and modeling of these metallic plants, this project required
extensive consideration and research. In terms of external design, metallic plants mimic the
forms of traditional natural plants, as shown in Figure 15. They still possess leaves, stems, and
some flower-like plants even have blossoms and so forth. Such design enables people to better
accept and understand their functions. Secondly, due to the multifunctionality and settings of
these artificial plants, these metallic materials form the shells of the plants during modeling, as
shown in Figure 16. The quality of metal includes the concept of photovoltaic capture devices
and photocatalysts in cyber plants, adding a cyberpunk style to the overall design, making the
entire city look more futuristic. Metal products are more durable than items made from other
materials, allowing people in the story setting to utilize metallic cyber plants for long-term
survival. In modeling the types of metallic plants, flowers, trees, and bushes were selected to
create diversity. The colors of trees and bushes are relatively monochrome compared to flowers,
as shown in Figure 17. This approach aims to contrast with the flowers while maintaining a
harmonious and unified appearance and at the same time, not appearing too cluttered. The
metallic plant garden is located in the central part of the city, so its light source is necessarily
prominent to ensure viewers can discover it immediately. Therefore, particular emphasis was
placed on the brightness of the metallic plants, as shown in Figure 18. Even in a future city
gradually declining and abandoned, the botanical garden remains the most brilliant presence.
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Figure 16: Using Metallic Materials as the Shells of the Plants. By Xiang Guo.
Figure 17: Metallic Cyber Trees and Bushes. By Xiang Guo.
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Figure 18: The Brightness of Metallic Plants. By Xiang Guo.
The metallic cyber plants provide essential survival resources for humanity. Most of the
plants are located in public botanical gardens within the city, while a small portion belongs to the
former affluent society as private properties. In the older affluent areas, metallic plants are
symbols of wealth and power due to their exquisite design and multifunctionality. In public
areas, these plants are primarily used for basic environmental purification and illumination.
However, due to the extremely high cost of metallic plants and their inability to reproduce
autonomously, they never fully replace what is actually needed and required for survival.
Therefore, the entire future city gradually declines, with those capable of leaving seeking new
alternatives and opportunities in new places. Those who remain rely on public botanical gardens
for basic living essentials. The existence of metallic plants symbolizes the development of a
future city but also serves as a warning against environmental pollution and plant extinction.
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3.2 The Construction of Futuristic Cyberpunk Cities in the Video
The virtual video for this project depicts a futuristic cyberpunk city that incorporates
elements of metallic plants in the design. These metallic plants not only grow around the
buildings but also establish a future garden composed entirely of metallic vegetation. Therefore,
when designing this future city, the overall layout of the city is essential as well as the details of
individual buildings that are showcased in the video. Additionally, as the protagonist in the
video, the modeling and design of the metallic plants needs to be exceptionally intricate and
detailed.
Figure 19: Building in the Future City Exhibit a Dilapidated State. By Xiang Guo.
Firstly, the plan of the city in the video is crucial for designing the cyberpunk-style city.
In many depictions of cyberpunk aesthetics in films and TV shows, such as Blade Runner, the
landscapes of future cities often exhibit a dark, crowded, and chaotic appearance, yet they are
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accompanied by products of high technology.
16 Consequently, the architectural style of these
buildings is often a fusion of both technological and dystopian sensibilities. Due to the rapid
development of human technology, buildings in the city incorporate features like glass facades,
LED screens, and floating transportation. These technological elements give the architecture a
modern edge. Secondly, in terms of dystopia, some buildings in the future city exhibit a
dilapidated state, with outdated equipment and disarrayed furnishings, as shown in Figure 19.
This dystopian atmosphere not only conveys significant class disparities in the urban future but
also reflects people's despair towards their quality of life.
The cityscape is filled with towering skyscrapers, providing a three-dimensional and
layered appearance. The structures are designed to accommodate the increasing population in the
future. Due to factors such as social class, location, and climate, the construction of future cities
shows significant differentiation from the past, resulting in a cyberpunk-style city with a
complex and intricate spatial structure. This complexity is emphasized by a variety of roads that
create distinctive urban compactness, supplemented by elevated highways, adding a
three-dimensional spatial dimension to the city. As illustrated in Figure 20, the bustling and
crowded scenes convey a sense of oppression to the audience.
16 Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott (1982; United States: Warner Bros. Pictures, 1982), DVD.
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Figure 20: The Screen Shot of Modeling Futuristic Cyberpunk City. By Xiang Guo.
In the layout of the future city, it is crucial to depict a contrast to highlight the extreme
wealth disparity or class polarization. The high-rise buildings and prosperous areas are primarily
occupied by the affluent class, some middle-class individuals working here, and ordinary
citizens. These areas boast advanced technology and a luxurious lifestyle. In contrast, the
majority of the lower-class population lives in low-rise structures or areas resembling slums.
These places lack natural light and fresh air, making life extremely challenging. The residents
depend on the surrounding public metallic cyber plants, which emit light and provide oxygen.
Consequently, most of the impoverished dwellings are concentrated near the public metallic
plant garden, as shown in Figure 21. Although these metallic plants in impoverished areas may
not match the functionality of the private metallic plants in affluent areas, they become the only
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ecological support for the impoverished regions, offering the most basic environmental
purification functions for the poor residents. In other words, they cannot stay away from their
residences for an extended period. This city is filled with advanced technology, yet a significant
portion of the population continues to live in a technological desert. The overall atmosphere of
the city is chaotic, oppressive, and contradictory.
Figure 21: Impoverished Dwellings are Concentrated Near the Public Metallic Plant Garden. By
Xiang Guo.
Furthermore, in the city setting of this project, the future city combines high technology
with desolation. Due to the mass exodus of the upper class, over time, most of the high-rise
buildings in the city are in a state of abandonment, with only scattered lights and much of the
transportation is paralyzed. Therefore, in constructing this city, the project deliberately gives the
high-rise buildings a slightly dilapidated look, as if it is an abandoned city. In the animated traffic
scenes, the highways and bridges still have a few remaining vehicles, but these vehicles are
mostly in a derelict state. Thus, throughout the construction of the city, there is no need for fast
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movement of vehicles or the bright lights typical of a bustling city. The project presents to the
audiences an atmosphere and feeling of abandonment, as shown in Figure 22. Next, the people
still living in this city gather around public metallic cyber plants as quasi-community centers.
Dilapidated houses become the mainstay of this city, but due to health reasons, most people
remain indoors. For survival, people modify the buildings they live in, and this aspect is
considered in the construction of these structures. Despite their worn appearance, these buildings
still possess many high-tech features, befitting of the story’s background, as shown in Figure 18.
The areas around public metallic plants in the city become community centers. While metallic
plants do not completely replace traditional vegetation, they still play a crucial role in
maintaining the ecological balance of the city. Therefore, the majority of city construction is
centered around metallic cyber plants.
Figure 22: Some Dilapidated Buildings in Modeling of Futuristic City. By Xiang Guo.
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This project utilizes Blender software for modeling the future city. When constructing
high-rise buildings, a vibrant appearance is used for decorative elements, allowing the audience
to sense the former glory of the city. However, a layer of worn-out filters is added to give these
original city structures a desolate atmosphere alongside former luxury. This approach makes the
overall look of the future city desolate and fragmented, as shown in Figure 23. The abandoned
future city serves as a warning to the audience, conveying the importance of maintaining
sustainable development. The advancement of technology cannot become the only foundation of
future life, and even products that replace traditional plants should not overlook the vital role
ecology plays in sustaining human life.
Figure 23: Panoramic View of Futuristic City in the Evening. By Xiang Guo.
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3.3 Dynamic Camera Movements and Cinematic Effects
Utilizing Blender 3D software for both plant and city modeling, its effects and sculpting
modes enhance the level of detail in plants and buildings. This includes the texture of plants and
the lighting effects on building walls, among other aspects, resulting in a more vibrant and
realistic model of the future city. The project presents this future world to the audience in a
capstone video animation, showcasing the metallic cyber plants as not only the future cityscape
but playing a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance. Therefore, the animation
segment visually narrates the aesthetics and functionalities of the metallic plants, as well as the
urban appearance of the future city. Simultaneously it conveys how humans cope and coexist
with nature in an advanced technological world.
The video showcases this future world in a segment lasting 50 seconds. When
conceptualizing the camera angles and camera trajectories, the project was inspired by the
beginning sequence of "Blade Runner 1982", as shown in Figure 24.17 The camera in this
segment primarily captures aerial views of the city and street scenes. The gloomy sky, crowded
crowds, and towering skyscrapers all convey a sense of storytelling and futurism to the
audiences. Many of the city scenes in the film construct a unique apocalyptic worldview. Under
the continuous rainy night sky, on one side, there are the towering Tyrell Corporation buildings,
while on the other side, there are ordinary people struggling to survive in leaky slums. This
represents a typical cyberpunk style, presenting a contrasting sense of evolved technology and
low-quality life style to the audiences. This video reference this style to explore my take on a
future city, enhancing the atmospheric and storytelling aspects through color tones, lighting
effects, and camera movement trajectories.
17 Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott (1982; United States: Warner Bros. Pictures, 1982), DVD.
34

Figure 24: The Beginning of Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott, Blade Runner (United
States: Warner Bros. Pictures, 1982), DVD.
35

Before I designed my video, a storyboard was created to outline the narrative content
during each scene, and the most effective shot composition and camera angles to convey the core
concepts of the environment, as shown in Figure 25. In the beginning segment, the visuals
commence with an unfocused city silhouette, resembling a painting shrouded in mist, creating a
mysterious atmosphere, as shown in Figure 26. As moonlight shines down, the city is enveloped
in a subdued glow, gently delineating the contours of the futuristic city and its towering
structures. The camera begins to slowly glide forward, employing a gradual focus to unveil the
panoramic vista of the entire cityscape. At this moment, the metallic plant garden in the frame
reveals a hint of its outline and halo, leaving space for the imagination. This opening design
creates a mysterious atmosphere, with the details of the city revealed in subsequent scenes. It
gradually guides the audience into an unknown and distinctive realm.
Figure 25.1: The Storyboard of Panoramic Video of Futuristic City. By Xiang Guo.
36

Figure 25.2: The Storyboard of Panoramic Video of Futuristic City. By Xiang Guo.
37

Figure 25.3: The Storyboard of Panoramic Video of Futuristic City. By Xiang Guo.
Figure 26: Unfocused City Silhouette. By Xiang Guo.
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Subsequently, the camera begins to rotate slowly, showcasing the panoramic 360-degree
view of the city without blind spots. At this point, the audience fully observes the sights of the
future city, such as skyscrapers, dilapidated exteriors, intricate suspended roads, and more,
forming a contradictory cityscape filled with both a sense of futuristic technology and decay. The
metallic plants, with their unique appearance, colors, and sizes, are scattered throughout the city,
creating a striking contrast with the surrounding architecture. The camera shots in this particular
scene draw inspiration from the low-lighting and high-contrast style of "Blade Runner,"
accentuating the distinctive beauty of the metallic cyber plants amidst abandoned buildings and
the dimly lit city.
18
It symbolizes the vibrant vitality of the metallic plants, as shown in Figure 27.
Subsequently, the camera moves through the towering buildings, showcasing the layout and
structure of the city, while also revealing the gradually abandoned and desolate scenery. Many
buildings have rust and display evidence of neglect, devoid of human occupancy. Only a few
vehicles traverse the elevated bridges, and the streets are sparsely populated. A few surveillance
airships float in the sky, while a handful of skyscrapers emit a faint glow powered by backup
generators, serving as remnants of human habitation in this city. Only the metallic plant public
garden in the central district possesses the last vestiges of "life" in the city. These visuals
illustrate the former glory and current decay of this future city, as well as the helplessness and
powerlessness following the extinction of traditional plants.
18 Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott (1982; United States: Warner Bros. Pictures, 1982), DVD.
39

Figure 27: Future City with Low-lighting and High-contrast Style. By Xiang Guo.
The scene then moves above the metallic plant garden, showcasing the unique metallic
cyber plants to the audiences from various angles, as shown in Figure 28. These plants exhibit
diverse forms and a wide range of species, encompassing flowers, grasses, and trees, each
serving different functions. The camera moves slowly, gradually focusing on one particular plant,
offering a close-up of the metallic cyber plant to display its complex structure and texture, as
shown in Figure 29. In the dimly lit environment, the metallic plants stand silently on the ground,
their metallic highlights capturing attention. The viewer witnesses the intricate details and the
light emanating from their tops. This scene gives an in depth view of the metallic plants through
close-up shots. As the camera continues, the scene transitions to a special point that reveals the
overall view of the plant garden and some surrounding structures, demonstrating how the
metallic plants blend harmoniously with other elements of the city. Simultaneously, the scene
depicts the gradually abandoned urban landscape surrounding the metallic plants—deserted
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streets, closed shops, and weathered buildings. All of this silently conveys a message: without a
natural and harmonious ecosystem, even the most advanced technology cannot sustain the
vitality of the city. Despite the dilapidated state of the surrounding structures, the metallic plants
continue to emit a radiant glow, seemingly offering the residents who inhabit this place a
glimmer of hope in their fading existence.
Figure 28: The Metallic Plant Garden. By Xiang Guo.
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Figure 29.1: The Details One of the Metallic Cyber Plants. By Xiang Guo.
Figure 29.2: The Details of Another Metallic Cyber Plant. By Xiang Guo.
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At the end of the video, the camera once again pulls back, returning to the panoramic
view of the city. The imagery gradually loses focus, being similar to the beginning of the video,
as if the entire city were shrouded in mist, as shown in Figure 30. At the bottom of the screen, a
line of small text appears: "The power of technology is a double-edged sword, capable of both
creation and destruction. Humans need to seek a future where technology coexists harmoniously
with nature." As this text appears, the background music gradually reduces in volume. The text
fades away, and the final scene aligns with the opening scene of the video, seamlessly
transitioning into the next cycle of the video. Through this 45-50 second video, the audience
views a story of hope, responsibility, awareness, and symbiosis. It serves as a reminder for
people to not only embrace technological advancements but also be mindful of ecological
imbalance and environmental pollution. Together, society must strive to protect the environment
and create a truly sustainable future.
Figure 30: At the End of the Video, Returning to the Panoramic View of the City. By Xiang Guo.
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Chapter 4: Methodology: Comprehensive Encyclopedia and
Derivative Products
In addition to the creation of a 3D world that envisions the city and the plant and the
video showcasing this future narrative, this project incorporates various items such as books and
cards to convey its core concepts. The intention is to design special experiences that present a
variety of perspectives and forms of engagement through this collection of products.
4.1 Encyclopedia Design: Layout and Content
My thesis project contains a book which is an encyclopedia centered around this future
world inhabited by metallic cyber plants. It provides readers with an in-depth exploration of the
virtual world, serving as an opportunity to look at its intricacies. Furthermore, it serves as a
supplementary exposition of the future city, offering additional insights and explanations. This
book serves a similar function as an instruction manual to the game "Cyberpunk 2077",
containing background information and an introduction to the social structure within the game,
as shown in Figure 31.19 The encyclopedia combines illustrations, the background setting of the
future city, and the design concepts that inform this future world. It offers a more detailed
explanation and a comprehensive perspective, in order to comprehend the entire future city in a
printed medium.
19 CD Projekt Red, Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt, PlayStation 5, 2022.
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Figure 31: The Image of Word Compendium Book of Cyberpunk 2077 Game, Photograph by
Xiang Guo, February 22, 2024. Developed by CD Projekt Red, Cyberpunk 2077 WORLD
COMPENDIUM (United States: CD Projekt, 2020), 4-5.
Figure 32: The Magazine Binding Style and Print. By Xiang Guo.
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This encyclopedia uses the paper and binding commonly found in magazines, as shown
in Figure 32. Following the stapled binding method of a magazine, the spine of the encyclopedia
is held in place with metal staples. This binding method allows the pages of the magazine to be
easily turned, and it is easier to open the magazine to a flat surface for easier reading. The cover
of this encyclopedia is slightly thicker than the paper thickness of the inner pages and the paper
size is the same. As the book contains numerous illustrations, this binding allows the audience to
lay the spreads flat while reading, ensuring that the images are fully displayed without being
obstructed by folds. Furthermore, this choice of paper material makes the entire book more
lightweight and reader-friendly, resembling an instruction manual. In the case of the book cover,
it is designed to capture the readers' attention. I selected an image depicting the future city for the
cover. In this illustration, viewers witness a metallic plant garden surrounded by a diverse array
of futuristic buildings, as shown in Figure 33. I chose a font called Anero as the book title and
subtitle that evokes a sense of geometricity and simplicity, placed clearly at the center of the
lower section of the cover to ensure readability. Additionally, the design of the table of contents
serves as a tool to guide readers, to easily locate the content they are interested in. The first
chapter of the encyclopedic book begins with the history of the future world, exploring how this
city came into existence. The second part of this encyclopedic book gradually delves into the
city's layout and structure, the design and functionality of metallic plants, the lives of future
inhabitants, and finally, the operational model of the entire city and the lifestyle of the remaining
population after its abandonment. The font beneath the titles utilizes a more legible sans-serif
typeface, facilitating differentiation between each hierarchy. The background color and font color
of the table of contents are also similar to those of the cover page, creating a harmonious and
unified overall style.
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Figure 33: The Front Cover of the Book. By Xiang Guo.
In the main content section, the layout design takes inspiration from The Science of
Plants: Inside the Secret World.
20 The majority of this book employs a combination of text and
images to introduce different plants, as shown in Figure 34. The pages predominantly feature
images, accompanied by descriptive text, and occasionally include detailed illustrations. The
main content of this book is divided into several chapters, with each chapter focusing on a
specific theme, such as the design of metallic plants, an overview of the abandoned city, and the
lives of its inhabitants. In terms of page layout, images serve as the primary content for each
spread, while text provides supplementary explanations. Additionally, for complex or
20 Jamie Ambrose, Flora: Inside the Secret World of Plants (United Kingdom: DK, 2018).
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difficult-to-understand content or data, this book utilizes charts and graphs to help readers grasp
and comprehend the information more intuitively. On the sidebar of each page, a section is
dedicated to showcasing interesting anecdotes or providing tips related to life in the future world.
This approach enriches the overall content. As for the color scheme, darker tones are
predominantly used to reflect the gradual decline of the city. Additionally, cool colors are
employed to create a sense of futurism as shown in Figure 35. Warm color tones are utilized in
certain areas to create a visual impact through contrast. Another reason for their use is to convey
a sense of hope for the city to the readers. The typeface selection for the main text and heading
is similar to that of the aforementioned table of contents. The book employs two typeface styles,
ensuring a readable layout with a consistent style.
Figure 34: The Reference of Layout Design of the Book, Photograph by Xiang Guo, , February
22, 2024, in Jamie Ambrose, Flora: Inside the Secret World of Plants (United Kingdom: DK,
2018), 150-151.
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Figure 35: Encyclopedia Internal Layout Design. By Xiang Guo.
In terms of text content, the text provides a detailed exploration of the causes and
consequences of this future city. It includes explanations of why humans constructed this city, the
origins of metallic plants, and ultimately why the city was abandoned. Additionally, the book
describes the characteristics, scale, structure, and architectural styles of the future city. The book
also delves into the lifestyles and social characteristics of people in both prosperous and
declining periods within the future city. In addition, part of the book is based on the perspective
of a person living in this future city, integrating technical explanations, world history, and
elements of human life he has come into contact with in the future world into a cohesive
narrative. This section utilizes a different color and is inserted throughout the book's pages,
enhancing the overall reading experience and adding to the book's appeal. Furthermore, for key
49

terms or special concepts within the content of the book, emphasis is placed by using bold or
underlined formatting, allowing readers to quickly identify and capture essential information.
Through the aforementioned visual and content design, not only can readers acquire
detailed information about the future city and metallic plants, stimulating their imagination and
reflection on the future world. This encyclopedia is designed to remind the readers that while
pursuing technology and development, humans need to find a balance of harmonious coexistence
with nature to achieve sustainable development.
4.2 Series of Posters and Other Derivative Product
This project includes other derivative products. Ancillary products include cards as
shown in Figure 36. Each card showcases a specific scene of a metallic plant or a particular
setting in the future world. These images are derived from the illustrations used in the
encyclopedia, creating a cohesive connection. The overall visual style of the postcards aligns
with that of the posters and the encyclopedia, employing similar color schemes and font choices.
The Quick Response code of the panoramic video and the encyclopedia is placed on the back of
the card. People only need to scan this Quick Response code to watch the panoramic video of
futuristic city and the electronic version of the encyclopedia. As complimentary gifts, the cards
are available free to people. These cards can be used as souvenirs or as larger bookmarks.
Moreover, people can also give these cards to their friends or family members so that more
people can see this card. At the same time, people can also scan the Quick Response code on the
back of the card and see video and encyclopedia about this project. In this way, more people can
realize the purpose and purpose of protecting the environment and raising awareness of
sustainable development that this project wants to convey.
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Figure 36: Derivative Product Design. By Xiang Guo.
51

Conclusion
This thesis design project emphasizes world building and storytelling - creating a virtual
future city and a setting where traditional plants have gone extinct, replaced by metallic plants. It
explores the intricate relationship between technological advancement and environmental
conservation. The gradual abandonment and decay of the future city serve as a warning,
highlighting the importance of valuing harmonious coexistence with the natural world on the
path of technological progress. Although this project speculates on an extreme version of the
future, it serves as a reflection on the current environmental pollution. The unique innovation lies
in the conceptualization and visualization of metallic plants, offering a fresh perspective on
imagining the future. Through various visual mediums such as videos, an encyclopedic book,
and cards different aspects of research and understanding are provided, stimulating discussion on
sustainable development. This project inspires individuals to collectively implement strategies
for environmental protection.
While this project offers some novel perspectives on exploring the concept of
technological development coexisting with nature, there are opportunities for improvement and
further research in the future. In regard to interaction with the audience, although this project
provides rich visual experience like videos and books, it still lacks direct interaction with the
audience, such as some more immersive experiences, which may diminish audience engagement.
Hence, when further developing this design project in the future, I believe more interactive links
to VR immersive gameplay can be added, so that the audience truly goes to this virtual city,
becomes a resident of it, and has the visual experience. Alternatively, participatory workshops
could be held to allow participants to create their own metal plants or propose their own
imagination of the future city after environmental pollution, thereby deepening their interest and
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sense of participation in the project theme. What’s more, the inclusiveness of this project and the
consideration of audience diversity did not fully take into account the diversity and difference of
cultural backgrounds of the audience. In different cultures, the audience's understanding of future
cities and metal plants varies. For example, some religious people believe that there will still be a
need for religious buildings in the future world; or some people think that artificial plants in the
future should be made of crystals, etc. As a consequence, in future improvement designs, it is
critical to refer to more diverse social opinions from different cultural backgrounds and conduct
more research to ensure that project content can cover a more range of perspectives. By
recognizing and improving the shortcomings mentioned above, this design project can convey
the core theme to people more effectively in its future modifications.
The speculative world presented in my current works is a contradictory future world
awash with high-tech products, yet abandoned. The overall perception is currently in line with
the expected effect of this project, and it also conveys concerns about environmental pollution. I
expect to continuously improve this work in the future, with the goal of presenting the audience
with a complete macro future world and conveying to more people the idea and purpose of
protecting the environment.
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55

Abstract (if available)

Abstract As science and technology advance, human beings are increasingly demanding and exploiting natural resources. This negative behavior has led to ever more serious ecological issues such as environmental pollution and resource depletion. Consequently, I chose to set my thesis design projects backstory in an extreme future of progressively severe environmental pollution. In this imagined future world, the extinction of traditional natural vegetation has caused irreversible damage to the earth's ecosystem. Human beings had no choice but to invent metal plants to replace traditional plants. But ultimately, people found that the situation of the ecosystem had not improved, so this future cyber city was gradually discarded.

The core of this project is to design and build a future city without traditional plants, presenting the audience with a virtual future that is left behind after the destruction of the natural environment and ecosystem. This project unveils to the audience the landscape of future cities and metal plants, through a panoramic video. A comprehensive encyclopedia provides supplemental explanation about the structure of future cities, human living conditions and the role of metal plants in the future. Also included are cards featuring specific plants and information about their function. In the world depicted in the video and book, human’s living environment will become extremely harsh in the future due to the extinction of traditional plants, and even with metal plants, the restoration effect thereof on the environment will be minimal.

This project aims to underline the profound impact of environmental pollution and plant extinction wreaked by industrial development on human society and ecosystems by imagining a terrible future cyber world without traditional plants. I designed this world in order to alert people to re-examine the dilemma of ecological crisis, advocate environmental protection and raise people's awareness of sustainable development.

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Asset Metadata

Creator Guo, Xiang (author)

Core Title The futuristic world with metallic cyber plants

School Roski School of Art and Design

Degree Master of Fine Arts

Degree Program Design

Degree Conferral Date 2024-05

Publication Date 03/20/2024

Defense Date 03/20/2024

Publisher Los Angeles, California (original), University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag book design,environmental pollution,Modeling,OAI-PMH Harvest,sustainability,video installation

Format theses (aat)

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Wojciak, Ewa (committee chair), Burruss, Laurie (committee member), O'Connell, Brian (committee member)

Creator Email gxabby@126.com,xiangguo@usc.edu

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-oUC113857449

Unique identifier UC113857449

Identifier etd-GuoXiang-12705.pdf (filename)

Legacy Identifier etd-GuoXiang-12705

Document Type Thesis

Format theses (aat)

Rights Guo, Xiang

Internet Media Type application/pdf

Type texts

Source 20240325-usctheses-batch-1130 (batch), University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the author, as the original true and official version of the work, but does not grant the reader permission to use the work if the desired use is covered by copyright. It is the author, as rights holder, who must provide use permission if such use is covered by copyright.

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 2810, 3434 South Grand Avenue, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90089-2810, USA

Repository Email cisadmin@lib.usc.edu