{"id":103,"date":"2025-09-23T20:30:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T20:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/?p=103"},"modified":"2025-12-12T17:30:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T17:30:52","slug":"week-4-client-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/week-4-client-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Week 4 &#8211; Client Visit!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/KicksLab_Thumbnail-1-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-834\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/KicksLab_Thumbnail-1-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/KicksLab_Thumbnail-1-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/KicksLab_Thumbnail-1-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/KicksLab_Thumbnail-1-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/KicksLab_Thumbnail-1.webp 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When discussing outputs, we explored:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Numeric values<\/strong> (easy to share, harder to interpret)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Simulation mp4s<\/strong> (great visuals, but heavy and outside our art style)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GLBs<\/strong> (3D models only)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This week was all about design, outreach, and development; as we prepared for key client interactions and continued sharpening the connection between our gameplay vision and partner needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Client &amp; Partner Alignment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Early in the week, we scheduled our <strong>Zellerfeld meeting<\/strong> for Wednesday, September 24, with a pre-alignment session the day before to make sure our asks for both Zellerfeld and Ansys were crystal clear. In parallel, we kept building toward our <strong>end-of-week meeting with Ansys<\/strong>, ensuring our design and prototyping work tied directly into their expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We also had a session with <strong>Chris and Ethan from Ansys<\/strong> to dive deeper into their simulation workflow. One of Ethan\u2019s most useful insights was how <strong>simulation iterations multiply<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Every shoe design \u00d7 every material \u00d7 every test = one iteration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Even two sneakers (e.g., high top and low top), paired with a few materials (zNylon, zLycra) and tests (split tear, abrasion), already result in dozens of simulations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This highlighted the need to <strong>limit variations<\/strong> to keep simulations feasible. We even saw a <strong>stress test demo<\/strong>, which helped us visualize possibilities. Ansys suggested they might be able to <strong>mimic Zellerfeld\u2019s lattices<\/strong> in their system though material details from Zellerfeld will be crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We may need to animate our own <strong>particle systems<\/strong> based on Ansys\u2019s data to balance technical accuracy with engaging aesthetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"385\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-7-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-385\" style=\"width:237px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-7-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-7-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-7-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-7-1536x1152.png 1536w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-7-2048x1536.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-12-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-391\" style=\"width:235px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-12-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-12-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-12-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-12-1536x1152.png 1536w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-12-2048x1536.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"390\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-11-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-390\" style=\"width:232px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-11-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-11-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-11-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-11-1536x1152.png 1536w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-11-2048x1536.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"387\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-8-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-387\" style=\"width:641px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-8-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-8-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-8-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-8-1536x1152.png 1536w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-8-2048x1536.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Game Design Progress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On the design front, <strong>Sam drafted the first paper prototype of the gameplay loop<\/strong>, which Libby and Steven will continue building on. This sparked valuable brainstorming around the <strong>user journey<\/strong> and helped us clarify scope before deeper collaboration with Ansys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Youth Outreach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Outreach was another big focus. <strong>Sam followed up with Ben<\/strong>, who connected us with several youth-oriented groups in Pittsburgh, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>YWCA<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assemble<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>LIFE Male STEAM Academy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>City High<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We sent an introduction email and requested support for <strong>educator interviews<\/strong> and <strong>student playtests<\/strong>. Scheduling sessions with teachers and students (ages 13\u201318) is now in motion\u2014an exciting step toward grounding our design in real player feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creative &amp; Documentation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, on the creative side:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We made progress on the <strong>project poster and logo<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Continued <strong>brainstorming in FigJam<\/strong> around the gameplay journey.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advanced <strong>website development<\/strong> (though we hit a few publishing snags to troubleshoot).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Continued building strong <strong>documentation<\/strong> to capture updates and align the team.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Looking Ahead to Week 5<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Next week, our focus shifts from preparation to action:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow up with <strong>Onur Gun (New Balance)<\/strong> to schedule the designer\/engineer panel call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tuesday:<\/strong> Pre-meeting alignment session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wednesday:<\/strong> Zellerfeld meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finalize the <strong>poster and logo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Push forward on <strong>youth outreach<\/strong>, confirming sessions and finalizing the <strong>teen survey<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"698\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-1-1-1024x698.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-1-1-1024x698.webp 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-1-1-300x205.webp 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-1-1-768x524.webp 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-1-1-1536x1048.webp 1536w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-1-1.webp 1554w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When discussing outputs, we explored: This week was all about design, outreach, and development; as we prepared for key client interactions and continued sharpening the connection between our gameplay vision and partner needs. Client &amp; Partner Alignment Early in the week, we scheduled our Zellerfeld meeting for Wednesday, September 24, with a pre-alignment session the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":834,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":841,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103\/revisions\/841"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/kicks-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}