Meghan Markle Relaunches Lifestyle Brand with a Fresh New Era

A New Chapter for As Ever

Meghan Markle has relaunched her lifestyle brand under a new name, As Ever, introducing a fresh new era that captures the brand’s original bespoke charm. The new brand takes a more personal approach, combining sleek design with heartfelt personal flourishes.

A Refined Evolution

The original brand name, American Riviera Orchard, was subject to a rejected logo trademark application in September. As Ever’s new design approach is a refined evolution, with a sleek new crest and classy calligraphic wordmark that celebrates the Duchess’ creative side.

A More Fluid Brand

The Duchess claims that the new title is less restrictive, allowing for a more fluid brand. In an Instagram post announcing the new brand, Meghan shared, "This new chapter is an extension of what has always been my love language, beautifully weaving together everything I cherish – food, gardening, entertaining, thoughtful living, and finding joy in the everyday."

The New Brand Aesthetics

The highlight of the rebrand is the As Ever website, featuring a new wordmark logo and intricate crest. The handwritten calligraphy-style logo has a soft, romantic feel, complemented by a lush Californian backdrop featuring the Duchess and her daughter Lilibet running through their garden. Two hummingbirds frame a delicate palm tree on the brand’s new crest, pairing minimalist illustration with elegant linework to create a classy, scalable design.

A Comparison of the Old and New Logos

As Ever and American Riviera Orchard logo comparison.
(Image credit: As Ever/American Riviera Orchard)

Conclusion

As Ever shines in its simplicity – an unfussy yet refined brand built upon passion and bespoke creativity. Despite its rocky beginnings, the Duchess’ lifestyle brand has evolved into a charming identity rooted in stripped-back style dripping in minimalist class.

FAQs

Q: What is the new name of Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand?
A: As Ever.

Q: Why was the original brand name, American Riviera Orchard, rejected?
A: The logo trademark application was rejected.

Q: What is the key difference between the old and new logos?
A: The new logo is more simplified and features a more personal approach.

Q: What is the theme of the new brand?
A: Food, gardening, entertaining, thoughtful living, and finding joy in the everyday.

Blender Project: A Cassette-filled Room that Looks Like a Photo

We’ve seen some impressive Blender projects in recent years, but this one caught our attention for a different reason: it looks so real. The digital artist Daniel Skomorovsky created a 3D render that resembles a photo from a retro indie album cover.

The Creation Process

Skomorovsky first created the environment using cassette meshes. He started with a base cassette model and then compiled a range of uniform-size textures into a perfect grid as a form of sprite-sheet. By shifting the projection in the UV editor and applying random offsets, he achieved a sense of variation that makes the texture appear non-repeating.

Adding the Model

Next, Skomorovsky added the model – his girlfriend. He had her pose and then used a greenscreen key in the video editing software Davinci Resolve to add the image plane into the scene. To ensure consistency, he took the greenscreen photos after completing the initial 3D work, matching the pose and lighting to his desired scene look.

The Result

The combined 3D render is impressive, with a real sense of place. "I can smell the record store dank, and I like it," a commenter on Reddit said, and I agree. The image is so convincing that you need to zoom in very close to tell it’s a composite of two scenes.

The Final Touches

To achieve this look, Skomorovsky used a combination of Blender and Photoshop. He drew the textures and edited them in Photoshop to create the desired effect.

Conclusion

This project showcases the capabilities of Blender and the creative potential of its users. With the right techniques and tools, it’s possible to create stunning 3D renders that rival photographs.

FAQs

Q: What is Blender?
A: Blender is a free, open-source 3D creation software.

Q: What is a sprite-sheet?
A: A sprite-sheet is a 2D texture that contains a series of repeating elements, often used in video games and animation.

Q: What is a greenscreen key?
A: A greenscreen key is a technique used to remove the background from a video and replace it with a new background, often used in video editing software like Davinci Resolve.

Q: Where can I see more of Daniel Skomorovsky’s work?
A: You can find more of his work on his ArtStation account.

Stop-Motion Animation: A Timeless Technique for Captivating Storytelling

Stop-motion is one of the oldest animation styles, dating back to the 19th century. It remains popular today in claymation hits like Wallace and Gromit. And combined with new technology, it continues to be a powerful technique for captivating storytelling, as this stirring new ad shows.

Humane World for Animals’ New TV Ad

The animal welfare charity Humane Society International and Humane Society are rebranding as Humane World for Animals. To announce the new identity, the newly combined organisation has launched a new TV ad that uses a unique hybrid animation approach with stunning results (see our guide to the best animation software and the best laptops for animation if you’re looking to get started on your own animation projects).

Behind the Scenes

The new ad for the Humane World for Animals launch was made by Nexus Studios and director Johnny Kelly. It’s set to music by Sia, who has recorded a rendition of Peter Gabriel’s 1977 hit Solsbury Hill. The animation was made using incredibly lifelike handmade puppets and intricate stop-motion animation to tell the stories and transformations of five animals. Nexus has made the behind-the-scenes film below, revealing the painstaking process involved in creating the piece.

The Creative Approach

The rebranded charity initially decided to use animation to avoid using real animals and the potential harm that could cause. Nexus Studios’ creative approach allowed the brand to depict stories that show how it intervenes to improve the treatment of animals, from farm animals, to endangered species and marine life.

The Result

The use of real puppets and stop motion adds a warmth and emotion to the piece, while the hybrid approach creates a strikingly unique and realistic look.

The Director’s Perspective

Johnny from Nexus said the project was an ambitious experiment. "Summoned by the clarion call of animal welfare and adorable miniature stop-motion puppets, we were able to amass an incredibly talented crew and create a unique hybrid approach incorporating LED screens," he said. "It was an experiment — but Nexus have a knack for jamming traditional techniques and high-end technology together so you get the best of both worlds — and in this instance, it allowed us to dream big with our ambitions and storytelling. To tell stories that hint at the incredible work Humane World for Animals carries out around the globe."

Conclusion

Stop-motion animation remains a powerful technique for captivating storytelling, and this new ad showcases its ability to evoke emotions and convey complex stories. The use of handmade puppets and stop-motion animation creates a unique and realistic look, making it an effective way to communicate the work of Humane World for Animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is stop-motion animation?
A: Stop-motion animation is an animation technique that involves physically manipulating objects or puppets and photographing them in small increments, then playing back the resulting frames to create the illusion of movement.

Q: What is the benefit of using stop-motion animation in this ad?
A: The use of stop-motion animation allows for the creation of lifelike puppets and a unique, realistic look, which is particularly effective for telling stories that highlight animal welfare issues.

Q: What is the purpose of the new rebranding?
A: The rebranding is intended to unify the two separate entities, Humane Society International and Humane Society, under one new identity, Humane World for Animals.

Unreal Engine 5 Powers Small Team to Create Stunning Visuals in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Unreal Engine Enables Small Teams to More

Sandfall Interactive has been working on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for a number of years, and the team leapt at the chance to upgrade to Unreal Engine 5 in 2022. "It was a game changer for us," says Tom Guillermin, CTO and co-founder of Sandfall, and lead programmer on the game. The engine provided powerful lighting and geometry tech in the form of Lumen and Nanite, as well as easing a lot of pain points around things like character creation.

From UE4 to UE5: A Smooth Transition?

The team had been working with Unreal Engine 4 before the release of Unreal Engine 5, and the switch was not entirely smooth. "It was a bit of a struggle at first," recalls Art Director Nicholas Maxson-Francombe. Many of the plugins they had been using in UE4 didn’t work in UE5, requiring many hacks and workarounds. Tom adds that Lumen’s initial switch completely ruined all of the carefully calibrated lighting the team had already implemented. "We had some locations that had a very specific look to them, and we had to retune everything to get back that look."

Taking Advantage of Free Assets

One thing that has been a big help is all the 3D assets that Epic regularly gives away. "When we started off with Unreal, we used a lot of the free packs that came in monthly," says Nicholas. "We sometimes reuse some of the stuff and retexture it, remodel it to make it fit our mood and our world. So that really helped in terms of our pipeline. Especially with rocks: you’ll find those everywhere." He notes that the team does create some assets from scratch, but many others are freebies that have been carefully remixed and repurposed.

Focusing on ‘Hero Assets’

Tom suggests that it makes sense for the team to focus most of their time on what he calls ‘hero assets’ rather than, say, stones. "That’s what makes the level stand out, in the end, more than having, like, super rocks." Nicholas adds, "It’s really thinking of those unique shapes that will be the landmark of your level. It’s about putting effort into the things that stand out, and spending less time on the things that ‘no one’s going to ever look at’."

Conclusion

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a testament to the power of Unreal Engine 5 in the hands of a small team. With its stunning visuals and engaging gameplay, it’s a game that’s definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How did the team transition from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5?
A: The transition was not entirely smooth, with many plugins not working and requiring hacks and workarounds.

Q: What tools did the team use to create the game’s visuals?
A: The team used Lumen, Nanite, and other tools provided by Unreal Engine 5, as well as free assets from Epic Games.

Q: How did the team approach asset creation?
A: The team created some assets from scratch, but also repurposed and reworked free assets to fit their needs.

Q: What is the focus of the game’s development?
A: The team focused on creating "hero assets" that stand out, rather than spending too much time on minor details.