Unlocking 3D Digital Practice in Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics for Performance

Unlocking 3D Digital Practice in Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics for Performances in Virtual Production.
Project partners: London College of Fashion, Copper Candle, Imogen Fox, Anette Ollerearnshaw.

London College of Fashion (LCF), UAL, is proud to lead a research and development collaboration that brings together cutting-edge creativity and innovation in the fields of virtual production and digital performance. In partnership with live virtual events creators Copper Candle, digital designer Imogen Fox, and LCF undergraduate students from the BA Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics for Performance, this project explores the future of character design in immersive digital environments.

Supported by XR Network+ through their Prototyping, Impact and Acceleration (PIA) round two funding, the initiative addresses a critical knowledge gap in the digital application of hair, makeup, and prosthetics for characters in 3D animation, gaming, and live interactive performance. The project aimed to equip students and practitioners with the skills and workflows needed to translate traditional design practices into the digital realm.

This project empowered our learners to develop creative digital characters who not only visually inhabit their story-worlds, but also contribute to evolving industry standards. These performance characters will appear in a live, interactive event staged within Fortnite, where audiences can explore, play, and engage with dynamic, non-linear storytelling delivered by digital performers, musicians, and artists.

As part of the development, the team will also create an audience avatar prototype, designed to reflect real-life visitors in virtual spaces, while carefully considering the ethical implications of representing human identities in digital formats.

Throughout the project, we are guided by the expertise of wigs, hair and makeup (WHAM) consultant Anette Ollerearnshaw, who brings valuable insight into skill transference and knowledge exchange that supports the next generation of creative professionals.

The findings from this research will be shared at the Beauty and Gaming Symposium hosted at LCF East Bank in March 2025, offering a cross-industry audience the opportunity to engage with the emerging intersections between beauty, performance, and digital innovation.

This initiative exemplifies LCF’s commitment to pioneering digital futures in fashion, performance, and education, and reflects our broader mission to shape lives through transformative creative practice.