Immersive Systems Design – 3D Modelling Innovation & Technology
Cole Hailstones
Cole Hailstones is a Cumbernauld based 2D/3D artist whose work draws on identity, place, human connection and cultural exchange. Their expertise in 3D modelling, toy design, animation and digital illustration serve as their trade tools – viewing working labour and the creation of art as one and the same. Cole’s work is graphic and bold; they are inspired by Glaswegian socialism, intersectional feminism, 90s Cartoons and a deep passion for film, tv, video games and animation from the world over.
Outwith their Bsc in Immersive System Design, Cole holds an MA in Theology and Religious studies from The University of Glasgow and has applied critical and contextual analyses to the field of game studies – particularly focusing on the growing field of Digital Humanties. In their final year research project titled, ‘I Saw The PC Glow: Digital Transness and Gamified Care Structures’ Cole developed A’GENDA: A Dress Up Game to investigate the importance of The Virtual Avatar as a mode of affirmative self actualization for transgender and gender diverse gamers when made by a Trans developer. The creation of the intra-community built game and digital care structure is an examplar in Cole’s main motivations behind their work.
Central to Cole’s practice is a profound desire to facilitate a sense of interconnectivity with all things, people and places. Cole seeks to portray stories and ideas with surrealism, colour and a touch of whimsy – whilst never shying away from material reality as we know it – encouraging all to look at where they’re from, who they wish to be and what lies ahead for us all together as Earthlings.
Cole is available for work in game ready asset development, 3D animation, toy design, previsualisation & illustration.
The Clydeside Cowboy
3D Animated working concept for a futuristic central-belt solarpunk cartoon.
In Clydeside Cowboy I was inspired by the late ‘Birdman of Pollok’ – Colin Macleod and the activists of the Pollok Free State to create a 3D animated concept trailer for a central-belt set, solar-punk cartoon about the future of my home in Abronhill. Influenced by Afrosurrealism and early 90s Cartoon-network, Clydeside Cowboy honors the socialist architectural history of Cumbernauld and the diverse working class community of Abronhill.
This project and concept is a love letter to Cumbernauld, it’s socialist architectural history, communities and natural environment. The aim of my project was to use 3D modelling and animation to convey a sense of hope for my hometown and community; using surrealism and whimsy I have created a family friendly animation, and hopefully an episodic show, to support the hopeful Solarpunk artistic movement. To achieve this I set about the following goals: I wanted to use painted normal maps and hand painted textures, to convey my own illustration style – leaning into a graphic and cartoonish representation of my local community shopping center. Key cinematic, stylistic and narrative inspirations for me were Studio Ghibli, Into the spider-verse, 90s/00s Cartoon-Network and the recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem!
Clydeside Cowboy is a 3D animation which reimagines the future of my own community, the end of capitalism and the beginning of a communal, library-economy. The future of this show will have you following the Clydeside Cowboy as he runs a lost media library and its delivery rental service, where anyone can borrow and return local movies and music from the past. Much like the 70s Matt McGinn song playing in the trailer.
I grew up and went to the high school George Forsyth filmed Gregory’s Girl (1981) in, which is now a fenced off and flattened wasteland – so a large part of this project, for me, was to make something for Abronhill by an Abronhill local. I think it’s common for us in Scotland to feel like we’re just the backdrop and rarely ever afforded opportunities to make our own films here and I’d like to be part of a changing this, growing up with Gregory’s Girl being part of my scheme’s history made me think this was more possible to do than it actually currently is! But! Through using free, open-sourced software – Blender – to animate in, I think will pave the way for more working-class artists to get their own stories heard; it definitely feels like the dawn of indie animation and games and I hope more hands get making and more untold stories are told!
The political inspiration and motivation behind Glaswegian Solarpunk can be found in the history of Galgael and The Pollok Freestate. A historic moment of working class, central belt climate solidarity that came about in the late 90s and was pioneered by the late and great Colin Macleod. Please consider supporting Galgael as they continue to provide wonderful community work here in Glasgow – https://www.galgael.org/ I hope my art in someway can convey the message as set by the wonderful people of Pollok: our schemes, our natural environment, our people – all unified as one circular community. Finally, if you would like to support art and community spaces within Cumbernauld please consider supporting or donating to the wonderful bunch at Creative Space Cumbernauld to help local artists get the supplies and studio space they need! https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/creative-space-cumbernauld/
Cumbernauld Town Center Year 2224
VISIT0RS
Collectible Designer Art Toys
VISIT0RS commemorates the great digital cultural exchange that happened early this year as western netizens migrated to the Chinese social media app ‘Rednote’ or Xiaohongshu 小红书. This toy series was inspired by conversations had with netizens from all over China about UFOs and Aliens, which in turn led to a lot of really lovely and insightful conversations about not only the influx of “tiktok refugees” but about us as netizens together collectively experiencing the expansion of our ‘global village’ 地球村. This is where my idea for VISIT0RS was born!
Inspired not only by this global social media cultural exchange but also by contemporary Chinese and East Asian toy designers and 3D modelers I’ve found on the app – making an app based, AR experience featuring collectible art toys was the goal! VISIT0RS positions Aliens as the new tourists on Earth, reminding Earthlings that to those beyond our planet – we Earthlings are part of one great global village 地球村, diverse and capable of peaceful cultural exchanges not just with ourselves but potentially Alien life too!
The 3D toy prototypes were modelled by myself and printed by the lovely guys at 3DScotland.net. This project also features music by local concrete-junglist MDP-90 and is available on bandcamp.
我很期待未来有机会能在中国从事玩具设计的工作。如果您有兴趣与我合作，或者愿意给我一些建议，请随时与我联系。目前我正在格拉斯哥大学孔子学院学习中文，希望将来有一天能够亲自到中国看看！
T.O.D.L.A.R
Tactical Orphan Defender Leg Apparatus Robot
TODLAR is a defense robot built to rescue orphan super soldiers – one in a series of baby defending bots! This portfolio piece is an example of my current modelling, texturing, rigging and editing standards. Modelled in 3Ds max using opensubdivision workflow, rigged and animated in Blender with hand painted textures created in Adobe Substance painter. This model is a balance of hardsurface modelling and organic character modelling, representative of my capabilities as a junior 3D generalist.
Pass The Hope: Myanmar relief
Pass The Hope: Myanmar Earthquake relief is a student-led art campaign standing in solidarity with Myanmar, following the devastating earthquake on March 28, 2025. Inspired by the traditional Burmese toy Pyit Taing Htaung – the name meaning “the one who rights itself when thrown down“, a bright and beautiful representation of resilience and the inevitable rise in the face of hardship.
Students and creatives are invited to contribute Pyit Taing Htaung inspired art to ‘Pass the Hope’ to millions of people affected, to remind them that the world has not forgotten them in difficult times of recovery. Join in, make your own traditional Burmese toy and pass the hope!
It is a huge honor to have been given the opportunity to be the first non-Burmese artist chosen to support the PTH campaign, lead by Nichole K (she/her) from GSA’s Mackintosh School of Architecture. Working together, we delivered visuals, 3D animations and a visual identity for PTH Glasgow to inspire artists across the world to create their own Pyit Taing Htaung to help the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) reach their fundraising goals. Please check out the campaign and support by creating your own Pyit Taing Htaung or by sharing and/or donating to the DEC’s justgiving page! This is an ongoing effort and all support is appreciated.
A’GENDA: A dress up game
A’GENDA: A dress up game is part of my final year research project and dissertation titled I Saw The PC Glow: Digital Transness and gamified care structures. My research examined the potential benefits of online, virtual avatar creator games (i.e Dress-up games) created for and by the Trans* community through an intersectional feminist approach to video game design. The feedback collected was utilized to provide qualitative data on the topic of affirmative digital health and care structures for Queer, intersex and trans* community members and sought to answer the following research questions:
- How to Trans adults relate to the Virtual Avatar and what are their thoughts and reflections?
- Through the lens of pragmatist, feminist epistemology, what can we observe about the transgender experience via the Virtual avatar?
- What can we understand about the Virtual Avatar and Queer Gender Expression through “dress up games” and how can this support present day queer theory, intersectional feminism and advocacy for trans rights?
- How can dress-up games potentially contribute to online affirmative care structures for trans youth?
This project wasn’t possible without the input from the wider GSA LGBTQIA+ community and I hope to keep updating this game with intra-community input – thank you all so much!
