Project Name: Ego4D (Egocentric 4D Live Perception)
Core Theme: Egocentric Perception (Teaching AI to see from a first-person perspective).
Unlike traditional "spectator" (third-person) computer vision, this project focuses on teaching AI to understand the world through human eyes.
The 2021 Context: "Naive" as a Strategy
Design Trend: In 2021 (around the time of the Meta rebrand), Silicon Valley giants favored "Corporate Memphis" or Naive/Flat Illustration styles.
Psychological Intent: The Ego4D project involved sensitive topics like "always-on cameras" and "AI analyzing human behavior." Using a high-tech, Cyberpunk, or hyper-realistic aesthetic would have made the technology feel invasive or dystopian (like Black Mirror).
Your Approach: As you noted, the use of a childlike, hand-drawn, lo-fi aesthetic was a deliberate choice to de-escalate the technology. It softened the "surveillance" aspect, framing the AI as a harmless, helpful, and human-centric tool rather than a cold machine.
The Shift (2024+)
Current Trends: With the explosion of Generative AI (Midjourney, Sora), the visual trend has shifted toward 3D Glassmorphism, Hyper-realism, and Glitch Art. The current era emphasizes the power and capability of AI, whereas 2021 was about building trust and safety.
Visualizing the Abstract Concepts
Because Ego4D deals with complex, abstract AI research concepts (like Episodic Memory and Forecasting), the storyboard played a crucial role in "translating" technology into relatable life scenarios.
Function: I converted technical benchmarks into human stories—such as translating "Episodic Memory" into the universal experience of "searching for lost keys," or "Hand-Object Interaction" into a drum lesson.
Narrative Planning: This section demonstrates how I planned the shot transitions and utilized the First-Person POV (Point of View) to simulate exactly what the AI sees, establishing the narrative rhythm of the animation.
Humanizing Tech through Naive Art
These frames define the Art Direction of the project, capturing a specific visual era in tech.
Style Definition: The design adopts a "Naive/Hand-drawn" aesthetic—a style heavily favored by tech giants (like Facebook/Meta) in 2021 to soften their corporate image.
Design Strategy: By using organic brushstrokes, soft color palettes, and non-threatening character proportions, I built a visual world that felt warm and inclusive. This was a strategic decision to lower the viewer's psychological defense against "AI monitoring technology," signaling that this future is friendly, helpful, and human-centered.
