Master of Design 2025

Graduating Mid-Year Showcase

YUHAO DAI

Rooted in the academic tradition of Chinese painting, my practice revolves around the relationship between space, image, and perception. Traditional Chinese painting, with its emphasis on expressive brushwork and spatial imagination rather than linear perspective, offers a unique foundation from which to explore the tension between two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms. As a contemporary artist, I seek to merge the compositional principles and aesthetic spirit of classical ink painting with digital modeling and virtual spatial techniques, aiming to discover new forms of visual narration that move fluidly between stillness and structure.
Dumo.Artstudio@gmail.com
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work.weixin.qq.com/apph5/user/h5/corp?vid_code=685B8728C1...

YUHAO DAI, 'Showreel'

This 3D showreel presents a selection of projects completed between 2024 and 2025, including academic exercises in modeling and animation, a semi-commercial fruit-themed toothpaste advertisement, and two stylistic visual pieces—a digital art museum promo and a stylized TV title sequence. The projects demonstrate my proficiency in various 3D software such as 3ds Max, Maya, and Blender, and incorporate post-production work in After Effects, allowing each piece to represent a full pipeline workflow—from modeling to final output. Collectively, these works reflect both my technical development and my evolving exploration of visual style and narrative.

YUHAO DAI, 'Shadows of the Golden Gate - TV title sequence'

This TV title sequence tells a noir-inspired story set in 1930s San Francisco. A missing Chinese-American singer leads a detective and a Chinese actress through a web of secrets and suspense. Using 3D models at varied scales—like a miniature Chinatown on a desk—I created layered narratives within single shots. Unified through consistent shader editing, the piece blends classic noir visuals with a surreal, cohesive style.

YUHAO DAI, 'Song Dynasty Aesthetics - Digital Art Gallery'

The Song Dynasty marked a high point in Chinese aesthetics, with bird-and-flower and landscape paintings as key art forms. This project digitally reimagines works like White Rose by Ma Yuan, Narcissus by Li Zigu, and Guqin in the Deep Hall. Using Blender’s geometry nodes and shader editor, it transforms static paintings into immersive scenes—where landscapes can be explored and flowers grow. Unlike traditional galleries that rely on text, this animated approach offers a more intuitive, dynamic way to experience Song aesthetics.

YUHAO DAI, 'Travel Toothpaste Set - 3D Commercial'

This playful and visually rhythmic 3D commercial centers on the theme of "flavor," featuring three fruit-infused toothpaste products. Through 3D modeling and animation, the ad highlights fun, eye-catching packaging and a consistent design style, with rich fruit elements reinforcing the brand's flavor identity.
The project integrates extensive AI-assisted design, including fruit pattern generation for packaging and custom material textures. Modeling was done in MAYA, combined with AI-generated imagery and edited in After Effects. I independently completed the entire pipeline—from product concept and design to final commercial output.

YUHAO DAI, 'Pip - SAEF Project Video'

This project marks my first attempt at combining animation with AI-generated imagery. Except for the penguin character, all visual elements were created using AI and then stylized with a pixel-art aesthetic to ensure visual consistency throughout the animation. This experiment explores the potential of AI imagery in animation workflows and aims to build a unique and cohesive narrative world.

YUHAO DAI, 'Water Transportation'

This group project focuses on the evolution of water transportation, presented through animation. The video illustrates the progression from traditional boats to modern watercraft. My primary responsibilities included post-processing selected images, setting up 2.5D layer sequences in After Effects, and contributing to the initial design of the promotional poster. The project emphasizes visual storytelling through timeline-based animation and offered valuable experience in animation workflow and team collaboration.