Stitching Space & Time: a Worldbuilding Project

The goal of this project is to explore worldbuilding in Afrofuturism and the evolving process of generative AI (GenAI) by synthesizing ideas to create a new aesthetic vocabulary. With GenAI and 3D modeling software as tools, you can explore new ways of working and creating.

Afrofuturism is a cultural movement that merges different subjects such as science, science fiction or sci-fi, historical fiction, fantasy and magical realism. Speculative design and worldbuilding are branches on the same tree, so to speak. Both involve using visual ideas to explore and envision possible futures.

Worldbuilding specifically defines the act of designing a world, how ever deep into the details you want to go with it. Another way to think about worldbuilding is patchwork quilting, a craft where different pieces of fabric are sewn together to create a quilt, which is then layered with materials and stitched together. Worldbuilding is like house building — you can have all the right ideas, materials, and tools, but if your foundation isn’t solid, not even the most beautiful structure will stand.

GenAI tools are great for generating or stitching together several ideas based on one theme or prompt. There are several tools to choose from and some of them are free to use.

Tinkercad 3D is a great tool for worldbuilding, particularly for creating 3D models of virtual environments or elements for various digital media projects.

Writing materials (ex. pencils, markers)

Paper (ex. Post-Its, index cards, flip chart paper)

USB jump drive(s)

Laptops/Internet

Worldbuilding AI text generator (ex. Toolsaday, ChatGPT)

Worldbuilding AI image generator (ex. Dall-E, Adobe Firefly, Canva Magic Studio, Deep Dream Generator, OpenArt AI)

Tinkercad 3D for 3D modeling and visualization

AI comic generators (optional, ComicsMaker AI or AI Comic Generator)

Printers (optional, b/w, color or 3D)

Afrofuturism is a cultural movement or practice that merges different subjects such as science, science fiction or sci-fi, historical fiction, fantasy and magical realism. Students should explore different examples, across subject areas such as reading A Few Rules for Predicting the Future: An Essay by Octavia E. Butler, visiting the web page for Women of Afrofuturism at the SFO Museum, playing themed games, and watching Ryan Coogler's Black Panther film. More are examples are listed here (including Young Adult books).

Books

A Few Rules for Predicting the Future: An Essay by Octavia E. Butler

Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures by National Museum of African American History & Culture

The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon

Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi

The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

Weirdo by Tony Weaver, Jr.

Art

Afatasi the Artist

Alisha B. Wormsley

D. Denenge Duyst-Akpem

Bodys Isek Kingelez

Nettrice Gaskins

Olalekan Jeyifous

Sanford Biggers

Saya Woolfalk

Games

Astro-Doomer: A9C-38 (role-playing game)

BOAA: Baako (platformer)

E.X.U.: Epilogue (shooter)

Kai UnEarthed (online)

[SA Game Jam]CyberWorks (download)

Films

Black Panther (2018)

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Brown Girl Begins (2017)

The Last Angel of History (1996)

Pumzi (2009)

See You Yesterday (2019)

Space is the Place (1974)

For this step, explore worldbuilding specifically as it refers to the act of designing a world, how ever deep into the details you want to go with it. Another way to think about worldbuilding is patchwork quilting, a craft where different pieces of fabric are sewn together to create a quilt, which is then layered with materials and stitched together.

One example of worldbuilding is Black Panther, a 2018 film directed by Ryan Coogler that centers on the ascension of Prince T’Challa to the Wakandan throne. He leads the most technologically advanced country in the world—the only African country untouched by European colonization. Coogler assembled an award-winning team to build Wakanda, including costume designer Ruth E. Carter and production designer Hannah Beachler. Ruth worked with Julie Koerner on 3D design and printing, specifically creating the headdresses for the queen character.

Mind mapping is a good place to begin worldbuilding. It is a visual technique used to organize information and ideas around a central theme. Also, it's hierarchical design allows you to see relationships between different concepts and subtopics. A mind-mapping template is attached.

If time allows, you can use other tools to brainstorm ideas for your projects such as ChatGPT or the Toolsaday worldbuilding tool. Individually or in small groups, identify the key components: Places, Characters, Props and Events. You can use index cards or Post-It notes to organize your ideas.

Patchwork is a more in-depth online tool you can use to build their worlds. Patchwork is a collaborative, AI-supported infinite canvas for creating fictional worlds. Note: You will need access to the Midjourney AI image generator in order to use Patchwork.

Here are the basic worldbuilding elements:

1. Describe the world (places)
2. Populate the world (characters)
3. Establish the history or culture of the world (Events)
4. Power the world (props)

Sample Worldbuilding Questions

1. Does magic exist in your world?
2. Who wields it?
3. Can it be learned or are people born with it?
4. Are props needed?
5. How does it affect people?
6. Do people fear it or embrace it, and what makes the difference?
7. Is there good and evil magic?
8. What other technologies do people use?
9. Who controls it?
10. How do they travel and communicate?
11. How do they use these technologies day-to-day?
12. Do they use technology for entertainment?

Visualizing a world often involves creating images, often with details, or sensory experiences. Visualization can be used for various purposes, such as worldbuilding. Tools such as AI image generators and 3D modeling tools can help you visualize your worldbuilding project(s).

You can use AI image generators such as Dall-E, Adobe Firefly, Canva Magic Studio, Deep Dream Generator, OpenArt AI. Several of these tools are free to use (or have limited free use). Take some time to do some research to select the best one for you. Here are a few tutorials:

1. Adobe Firefly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt4k9lVnS1Y
2. OpenArt.AI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjtDMKAvMN8
3. Canva: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U98h5GXzbc4
4. ChatGPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkLj5gzZff0

Attached is a guide for creating prompts to generate images based on your world.

You can also use Tinkercad 3D to create a 3D model of your new world. Tinkercad's visualization tools can help you see and understand your design(s) from different perspectives, including 3D views, or orthogonal views. If you are new to Tinkercad there are several online video tutorials available including this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIn9c5TjrKk.

Good worldbuilding skills pull readers into your story and makes the fictional space feel real and alive. This immersion enhances the reader's engagement with the characters and plot. For example, Black Panther is part of the Marvel Universe that is a complex example of a shared world with a rich history and interconnected narratives across multiple comic books and media (ex. films).

Sequential art, which is the visual language of comic books, is a unique way of storytelling that combines narrative with visual elements. It involves using a deliberate sequence of juxtaposed images/graphics to convey information, or produce a positive response in the reader. This art form relies on elements such as panels, gutters, speech bubbles, and the interplay of color, line, and composition to guide the reader through the story.

Using the methods and tools in this project you can create your own comic book or even make a slide presentation for a class. You can use text and images from steps 2 and 3 to create your comic using the attached page templates or your own designs.

Also, here are some examples of AI comics generator tools you can: ComicsMaker AI and AI Comic Generator