Creative Diversity: Expanding Software for 3D Human Avatar Design

This extended abstract describes research that designs 3D human avatar generation software for amateur creative users. Currently available software relies on limiting the range of possible bodies that the user is able to create, within the boundaries of normative physicality, in order to simplify interaction for users without 3D modeling skills. Rather than artificially limiting user output, we are creating open source software that expands the range of bodies able to be represented in program, following a user centered design process to implement direct manipulation techniques extrapolated from artistic practice. This paper describes the background context, aims, and current research activities related to creating this software.