Game-Ready 3D Avatar Outfits

In 2022-2025, Ruggiero created various game-ready 3D avatar outfits for several clients including The Glad Scientist, Genies, Joe Davis (MIT), and Game 7. Each outfit was sculpted in ZBrush and followed specific polygon limitations. Details from the high-poly meshes were projected onto low-poly meshes as normal maps, to imply more detail. Textures for each outfit were created in Substance Painter. Some projects were then either brought into Unreal Engine or rendered using Cinema 4D and Octane Render or Redshift.

The Glad Scientist Avatar Outfit & AR Kit Blend Shapes

In 2024, fifty-two ARKit blend shapes and a custom outfit were created for the artist The Glad Scientist to use with his VRoid avatar during live art performances. The character was rigged, and the blend shapes were designed to enable full-body motion capture during these performances. Both the outfit and blend shapes were made in ZBrush, with textures created in Substance Painter. The avatar’s skin was also re-textured to match the outfit. Finally, the rigged avatar was imported into Unreal Engine 5, where a blueprint was set up to link the ARKit blend shapes with the Live Link Face motion capture app for real-time use.

Genies Avatar Outfit

In 2022, for Genies—a company known for collaborating with influencers and pop artists on virtual events and online visuals—Ruggiero designed a VR, AR, and game-ready outfit adaptable to any of their avatars. The concept blends a strawberry and playing card aesthetic with elements of a clown or jester outfit. Inspired by video game trends, the outfit was sculpted in ZBrush and textured in Substance Painter.

Joe Davis (MIT) Avatar Outfits

In 2024, seven outfits were created for MIT artist Joe Davis for an AI avatar that will hold his consciousness in the digital realm after he passes. The outfits were created as mix and match pieces for interchangeability and to represent some of his favorite styles (and a spacesuit inspired by the movie Alien because it's really cool). This project was done through the direction of Joe Davis, in collaboration with artist, PLANTTDADDII. ZBrush, Substance Painter, Cinema 4D, and Redshift were used for the creation of this project. Below are a selection of the outfits that were created.

Game7 Avatar Outfit

In 2024, Game7, a Web 3 gaming company, commissioned several 3D artists to create an outfit for their avatars. The outfit below was created as a collaboration between Nicole Ruggiero and PLANTTDADDII. It is based on a mash-up of themes, including sharks, water, & Y2K aesthetics. The outfit was created in ZBrush, Substance Painter, and later rendered in Cinema 4D and Redshift Rendering Engine.