Lily Cortes
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Muse
Muse is a digital artbook for a theoretical game inspired by the Style Savvy game series. Composed primarily of character illustrations, concept art, and narrative synopses, my thesis focuses on self-expression, identity, and self-discovery through fashion.I’ve always been scared of expressing myself out of fear of ostracization, judgement, and repulsion from others, forcing myself into a never-ending cycle of rejecting and avoiding the things I like and want to do. Thankfully, video games are a safe haven from the voices in my head. From immersing myself in the narrative, to beating challenging bosses, and collecting items or achievements, there’s always something for me to work toward, somewhere I can have fun, some space I can feel “normal.”
In a fashion game, I get to embrace my stylistic interests without the social or physical consequences. I can experiment with outfits and makeup I couldn’t even dream of trying on in real life, learning new things about myself and what I like in the process. Fashion acts as a muse for my character designs, allowing me to create new characters in minutes by expressing their personality through their style, with fragments of their backstory falling into place with each outfit.
My thesis shares the magic of fashion games with the viewer, drawing them into a game world where I can express how fashion is freeing, healing, and empowering, and encourage them to embrace it too. There’s nothing better than that spark of excitement you get when you find a piece of clothing that feels like it was made just for you.