Gaming - A Space For Imagination, Reinvention And Escapism

Even before talk about the metaverse became vogue and brands ranging from Louis Vuitton to OPI (yeah, the nail polish company) and Netflix started getting into the arena, gaming has always offered a space for imagination, reinvention and escapism. Keng Yang Shuen meets five from the fashion and design scene here who might or might not fit your stereotype of a gamer, and gets them to share how the pursuit makes them feel utterly alive.

- Damian Huang

MIKI CHARWIN, DESIGNER AND ART DIRECTOR WHOSE PRACTICE FOCUSES ON DIGITAL, SPATIAL AND EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN How often she plays: Nearly daily, from a few minutes to a full 18 hours when engrossed Games of choice: JPRGs (Japanese roleplaying games) for their detailed focus on storytelling – examples include Final Fantasy, Yakuza, and Nier: Automata On the appeal of games: “They’re extensions of their creators’ beliefs, ideals, and interests, and I find that most fascinating to experience.” On how other creative industries can benefit from gaming: “I was designing and running showrooms in Seoul and Paris for Fashion Week at my last job (as a creative director at apparel distributor Selfhood). When the pandemic hit, everyone was in a mad scramble to find ways to show their new collections. This often resulted in clunky virtual showrooms with cumbersome features; their low-poly clothing racks looked like games out of the early Internet era. All this time I was thinking, why didn’t anyone approach any game studios to collaborate? The latter have been perfecting the environmental design and immersive experiences for decades… Games draw from many different points of reference, from arts, culture, history, and fashion. Them becoming more accessible means more refined conversations and collaborations, as well as a new tool to express ideas and reach out to people.”

Velvet blazer, pants and leather loafers, Prada. Top and all other accessories, Charwin’s own

DOMINICK LIM, STUDENT MAJORING IN MOTION GRAPHICS AND A MODEL REPRESENTED BY MISC MANAGEMENT