Human Organoids: Modeling Disease
(in progress)
The MScBMC program requires all students to undertake a Master’s Research Project (MRP) focused on visual communication in science and/or medicine. My project aims to address the communication gap in understanding human organoids, which are simplified three-dimensional models of organs grown in a lab. Human organoids have shown huge potential to study organ development, model hereditary and acquired diseases, as well as developing patient-specific drug screening.
In this project, I take on several roles, including researcher, author, designer, 2D and 3D animator, and, most importantly, project manager. The result of this project will be an animation designed for undergraduate biology students and the educated public, explaining what organoids are and their potential applications.
Committee Members
Derek Ng (Professor, Department of Biomedical Communications, University of Toronto)
Liliana Attisano (Professor, Principal Investigator, Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto)
Format
A 4-5 minute video with a combination of 2D and 3D animation.
Tools
Milanote
Mendeley
Figma
Autodesk Maya
Pixologic ZBrush
Adobe After Effects
Adobe Premiere Pro
Project Initiation
I've gathered all relevant information about the project on one Miro board. This approach allows me to maintain a constant focus on the goal, even as it may evolve over time, and also provides a general bird's-eye view of the project. However, the first step is to research the topic.
Topic Research
Utilizing popular databases such as Web of Science and Scopus, along with other online resources, I conducted an extensive literature review and media audit to identify and address a visualization challenge. With constructive feedback from both peers and faculty, I drafted a research proposal outlining the goals, objectives, and methods to effectively tackle the identified problem space.
Animation Treatment
Based on the literature review and media audit, I drew up an outline for future animation which I refer to as the Animation Treatment. It is a concise (1-2 page) written overview describing the proposed film, offering a glimpse of its shape and atmosphere rather than providing exhaustive details.
Script Writing
The narration script serves as the backbone, determining the sequencing and timing of the film. It also serves as a rapid iteration tool before visual execution, aiding in the organization and refinement of ideas. My script included descriptions of action, voiceover, and transitions between shots.
Storyboard
Storyboards are important for pre-visualizing movement and composition in the final animation. At this stage, I supplemented the script with simple black-and-white (or minimal color) sketches for subsequent pitches and discussions with stakeholders. I chose to begin with major beats, maintaining an economy of shots, and then filled in the frames in between.
Animatic (to be updated)
Sequential presentation of storyboards accompanied by a VoiceOver:
Snippets
To get a sense of the look and feel of the future animation:
(to be continued)