Assignments Virtual Personas
Overview per week
Virtual Persona — Assignment Timelines
Each assignment is structured as three weeks (~10 hours per week, ~30 hours total). Expand an assignment, then expand a week to view tasks.
▶ Assignment 1 — Defining the Persona
▶ Week 1 — From idea to identity
Focus: Title, field, and purpose of the Virtual Persona.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Tue | 1 · Title and Name of the Persona | Establish the conceptual core identity | 3 h | Review the thematic field you want to explore (education, art, politics, etc.) → brainstorm at least 10 possible persona names → choose one or two that express function and tone → write a 3-line definition capturing its symbolic and emotional essence → note how this name positions the persona within cultural or professional discourse. |
| Wed | 2 · Field of Activity | Define where and in which context the persona acts | 4 h | Identify and research potential activity fields (commercial, social, political, educational, artistic, experimental) → describe which media platform or spatial context best suits the persona (Instagram, installation, teaching interface, etc.) → sketch a short scenario of typical interaction within that field → summarise in 5–7 lines. |
| Thu–Fri | 3 · Purpose and Role | Clarify the persona’s motivation and type of exchange | 3 h | Write a focused paragraph (≈150 words) explaining the persona’s purpose: what it does, why it exists, what type of experience it creates (informative, performative, reflective, persuasive) → collect reference examples of similar functions in existing virtual figures → map visually how your persona differs conceptually and ethically. |
Outcome of Week 1: A clearly articulated concept draft — the persona has a name, a working field, and a defined motivation within a specific social or cultural context.
▶ Week 2 — From intention to ethics
Focus: Audience, tone, and ethical positioning.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Tue | 4 · Audience and Communication Style | Determine who the persona addresses and how | 5 h | Identify target audiences (age, interest, platform habits) → specify tone and mode of address (formal, playful, critical, empathic) → experiment with different first-person and third-person texts to test its voice → note how gestures, facial expression, or posture could support this tone → prepare short dialogue samples or posts to check credibility. |
| Wed–Thu | 5 · Ethical and Cultural Dimension | Reflect on presence, authenticity, empathy, and agency | 3 h | Write a 200-word reflection on how your persona comments on digital presence and authenticity → identify potential risks (stereotyping, manipulation, over-exposure) and propose counter-strategies → relate the persona’s ethics to one theoretical reference (Benjamin, Agamben, or current AI ethics) → visualise this ethical stance as a small symbolic diagram or collage. |
| Fri | Documentation & Layout Prep | Prepare material for conceptual dossier | 2 h | Collect all written parts and sketches → clean and edit text for clarity and tone consistency → set up an A3/A2 layout grid for combining text and images → choose typography and colour style reflecting persona’s attitude. |
Outcome of Week 2: A coherent communicative and ethical framework — the persona’s voice, target audience, and moral stance are defined and visually prepared for documentation.
▶ Week 3 — From reflection to representation
Focus: Visual prototype and final dossier layout.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Tue | 6 · Visual Prototype | Select or create the initial aesthetic reference | 5 h | Search for 6–8 strong visual candidates (artworks, film stills, 3-D renders, photographs) → evaluate each for atmosphere, materiality, and emotional tone → choose one main prototype and up to two secondary influences → write a 5–10-line commentary explaining why it embodies your concept. |
| Wed–Thu | Conceptual Dossier Assembly | Integrate all written and visual material | 3 h | Compose 2–3 A4 pages (or digital slides) including title, field, role, audience, ethics, and prototype → ensure visual-textual coherence → balance white space, headline hierarchy, and caption style → proofread for linguistic precision and conceptual unity. |
| Fri | Final Presentation & Reflection | Finalize A2 presentation sheets | 2 h | Assemble two A3 double pages (A2 format) with all relevant content → check image resolution and legibility → print or export as PDF 300 dpi CMYK → include a brief note (≈ 5 lines) on what you discovered about designing identity conceptually before visualisation. |
Outcome of Week 3: A finalized conceptual dossier — integrating text, prototype image(s), and short reflection, ready to serve as the foundation for visual development in Task 2.
▶ Assignment 2 — Developing the Final Figure
▶ Week 1 — From concept to typology
Focus: Portrait and body studies establishing the persona’s physical logic.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Tue | 1 · Concept Review & Setup | Reconnect the conceptual/ethical core from Task 1 | 3 h | Review concept → extract 5–7 key adjectives → create 3-line mission statement → compile 16 visual references (portrait, body, texture, colour) → build a concise annotated moodboard. |
| Wed | 2 · Portrait Studies | Define facial identity and emotional range | 4 h | Produce 10–12 head sketches (angles & moods) → refine 2–3 portraits with focus on gaze & light → note 3 constants. |
| Thu–Fri | 3 · Body Studies | Shape proportion + gesture rhythm | 3 h | Draw 10–12 gesture sketches → establish front/side/back canon → develop 3 signature poses revealing role or emotion. |
Outcome of Week 1: A coherent analog typology — the persona’s structure and expressive vocabulary are visible through drawing.
▶ Week 2 — From variation to reflection
Focus: Analog and AI variations, human–machine comparison.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Tue | 4 · Typological Variations (Analog) | Expand diversity within unity | 5 h | Produce ≥ 5 drawn variations (media mix: pencil, ink, collage) → emphasise contrasts in proportion, attire, texture → annotate intentions → curate best 5–7. |
| Wed–Thu | 5 · Translation into Latent Space (AI) | Bring analog typology into AI field | 4 h | Scan 3–5 key drawings (300 dpi) → craft master prompt + variants → generate ≈ 20 images → select 3–5 AI results revealing generative elasticity. |
| Fri | 6 · Comparative Reflection (≈ 300 words) | Analyse human–machine dialogue | 1 h | Write short essay: What changed? What persisted? What did you learn about authorship and identity? |
Outcome of Week 2: A documented analog–digital dialogue showing typological consistency and analytical depth.
▶ Week 3 — From definitive figure to presentation
Focus: Final selection, attributes, and A2 composition.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Tue | 7 · Selection & Character Foundation | Choose and define the living figure | 4 h | Compare all candidates → select definitive figure → justify in 5–10 lines → build Character Foundation Sheet (age, mood, role, voice, dress, palette, gestures, communication tone + ethical limits). |
| Wed–Fri | 8 · Final A2 Presentation | Synthesize results into clear boards | 6 h | Design two A2 layouts → Sheet 1 = Identity (figure + concept) → Sheet 2 = Evolution (analog + AI variants + reflection + foundations) → check grid & typography → export print + screen versions. |
Outcome of Week 3: A finalized, print-ready visual identity — the persona’s figure defined across analog and digital form, ready for Task 3.
▶ Assignment 3 — Equipping and Defining the Persona
▶ Week 1 — From function to context
Focus: Purpose, field, and operating environment.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Tue | 1 · Purpose and Field Definition | Decide where and why the persona exists; define function and audience | 4 h | Choose one primary category (Politics, Economy, Education, Art, Cultural Communication, Health, Social/Emotional Companionship, Influence, Digital Twinship) → write a sharp 120–150-word definition (what the persona does, for whom, why) → specify mode of appearance (streaming avatar, influencer, AI presenter, guide, performer) → benchmark 3 real examples and note what you will do differently (conceptually and ethically). |
| Wed–Thu | 2 · Context and Environment | Design the physical/virtual settings that support the role | 4 h | List the probable spaces (studio, classroom, office, stage, domestic / platform, portal, metaverse, game) → sketch 3 spatial/interface thumbnails that show where interactions occur (entrance view, action view, close interaction) → annotate how each spatial feature enables the purpose (acoustics, sightlines, UI, latency, privacy) → collect screenshots/collages of reference interfaces. |
| Fri | Documentation & Structure Prep | Organise materials for the dossier and plan page architecture | 2 h | Set up an assets folder (context images, sketches, notes) → define a 12-column layout grid for the A2 pages → establish typographic hierarchy (H1/H2/captions) and a restrained colour system tied to the persona → draft a one-page summary of Steps 1–2 with key visuals for later integration. |
Outcome of Week 1: A precise articulation of what the persona does, for whom, and within which space — conceptually grounded through sketches and contextual research.
▶ Week 2 — From object to behaviour
Focus: Equipment, clothing, tools, and communication patterns.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Wed | 3 · Equipment and Attributes | Design clothing, tools, and environment elements needed to act | 5 h | Create a component inventory: Clothing & texture (palette, fabric logic, symbolic meaning), Accessories & tools (objects for action/communication), Interior/surroundings (desk, chair, instruments, interface, lighting) → for each item, draw a small orthographic or silhouette sketch + 1–2 line annotation (function + meaning) → test two alternative palettes (primary/secondary/accent) and select one. |
| Thu | 4 · Communication Behaviour (Part A) | Tone/voice and movement style | 2 h | Define tone and voice (register, tempo, timbre; 3 adjectives each) → write two short scripts: an introduction (≈80 words) and a Q&A response (≈80 words) → draw 3 gesture micro-studies that pair with those scripts (head nod, hand open/close, gaze shift). |
| Fri | 4 · Communication Behaviour (Part B) | Response behaviour and interaction mode | 3 h | Specify response rules (how it listens, pauses, smiles, hesitates) → choose language mode (text, voice, visual, multimodal) and outline an interaction loop (prompt → response → follow-up) → storyboard 6 frames of a typical exchange (user intent → persona action → outcome) with timing notes. |
Outcome of Week 2: A detailed equipment and behaviour dossier — demonstrating how form, material, and gesture converge into a functional identity.
▶ Week 3 — From ethics to synthesis
Focus: Ethical reflection and presentation of the complete dossier.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 5 · Ethical and Cultural Reflection | Analyse implications of representation, persuasion, and empathy | 3 h | Write a 250–300-word reflection: how your persona reframes human–machine relations in the chosen field; risks (e.g., stereotyping, agency erosion, over-reliance) and mitigations (disclosures, constraints, consent) → cite one theoretical anchor (e.g., Benjamin/Agamben, AI ethics) and connect to your design choices. |
| Tue–Fri | 6 · Presentation (Composite Image + Dossier) | Assemble A2 presentation and final composite figure in action | 7 h | Compose 4–5 A2 pages (or 4–5 A3 spreads) as required: include purpose statement, context maps, equipment boards, communication scripts/gestures, and one final composite image (persona clothed, equipped, situated, active) → export print (PDF 300 dpi CMYK) + screen (sRGB) → include a short legend for tools and workflow; verify image rights/credits for references. |
Outcome of Week 3: A comprehensive A2 presentation — the persona fully equipped, situated, and ethically defined, ready for activation in Task 4.
▶ Assignment 4 — Activation of the Persona
▶ Week 1 — From design to system
Focus: Technical implementation and configuration.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Tue | 1 · Technical Implementation (Preparation) | Select tools and plan the technical workflow | 4 h | Survey available AI platforms (HeyGen, Runway, Sora, Inworld, Synthesia, etc.) → choose one or two aligned with your persona’s purpose (dialogue, cinematic, performative) → review documentation/tutorials → list system requirements (video, mic, lighting, output format) → prepare assets from previous tasks (persona sheet, prompts, visuals). |
| Wed–Thu | 1 · Technical Implementation (Configuration) | Integrate concept, visuals, and behaviour into the tool | 4 h | Input persona data: name, description, tone, gestures, preferred responses → adapt scripts/prompts from Task 3 → run test sessions for speech, motion, and camera framing → document settings and prompt iterations (screenshots + short notes). |
| Fri | Documentation & Workflow Log | Record configuration details for transparency | 2 h | Create a simple log table (date, tool, parameter, result, issue) → annotate which prompt or setting most effectively maintains identity coherence → prepare a draft technical sheet (tool + function + comment). |
Outcome of Week 1: A configured digital framework — the persona’s data, scripts, and gestures integrated into a chosen AI tool, technically prepared for activation.
▶ Week 2 — From system to action
Focus: Performative or social activation and first live trials.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Tue | 2 · Performative / Social Activation (Planning) | Decide where and how the persona will act | 4 h | Choose between performative (exhibition/live) or social activation (influencer/online) → draft a plan: context, audience, tone, duration, frequency → create a storyboard or outline for one 30 sec–2 min scene (introduction, key act, closing gesture) → collect reference clips for tone and pacing. |
| Wed–Thu | 2 · Performative / Social Activation (Execution) | Record or publish first persona action | 4 h | Implement your plan: record persona performing or post first digital act → experiment with voice rhythm, expression, gesture scale → capture several takes, evaluate realism and coherence → track engagement metrics (views, comments) if published. |
| Fri | Process Review | Assess technical and conceptual coherence | 2 h | Review outputs for fidelity to conceptual intent (tone, ethics, presence) → note adjustments needed in prompt design, lighting, or speech pacing → archive all video files and feedback. |
Outcome of Week 2: An operational persona — able to perform, speak, or interact autonomously within its selected medium.
▶ Week 3 — From action to reflection
Focus: Exhibition preparation and written analysis.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Wed | 3 · Exhibition and Documentation | Prepare presentation format and supporting material | 5 h | Decide exhibition mode (installation, online account, hybrid) → design layout (projection, monitor arrangement, sound setup, captions) → prepare one high-quality clip or interactive demo → compile screenshots, prompt sheets, and technical notes → ensure audio levels, lighting balance, and display consistency. |
| Thu–Fri | 4 · Reflective Statement | Analyse activation results and implications | 5 h | Write ≈400 words on what changed during activation → how tools extended or distorted identity → what kind of new ‘reality’ emerged through exposure → discuss agency, authorship, and influence → conclude with 3 bullet insights for future iterations → integrate text + visuals into 2×A3 double sheets (A2 final). |
Outcome of Week 3: A complete activation dossier — including video/performance documentation and a reflective essay on authorship and agency.
▶ Assignment 5 — Collective Exhibition and Curatorial Framework
▶ Week 1 — From individuals to concept
Focus: Curatorial title, thematic threads, and coordination setup.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Tue | 1 · Curatorial Concept | Formulate collective title, theme, and conceptual statement | 4 h | Read the ‘Curatorial Structure Proposal’ → hold group discussion to identify shared focus of all personas (identity, empathy, power, etc.) → draft 3 possible collective titles → choose one and write a 200-word curatorial statement summarising what the exhibition explores about virtual identity and presence → define narrative logic (sequential, simultaneous, interactive). |
| Wed–Thu | 2 · Thematic Threads | Map interrelations among personas and shared motifs | 4 h | List all participating personas and summarise their main field (education, influence, emotion, etc.) → cluster them under 2–3 thematic threads → design a mind-map connecting personas through keywords and visual style → annotate each link with short notes on ethical, aesthetic, or technological relation. |
| Fri | Project Coordination Setup | Define workflow and communication structure for collaboration | 2 h | Set up shared workspace (Google Drive/Notion/Miro) → create folder structure for visuals, texts, floorplans, and media → assign coordinators for curation, technical setup, and documentation → establish file naming conventions and weekly check-ins. |
Outcome of Week 1: A shared curatorial vision — clear conceptual framework, thematic clusters, and established collaborative workflow across all participants.
▶ Week 2 — From concept to form
Focus: Spatial/digital layout and collective visual identity.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Tue | 3 · Spatial / Digital Framework | Design the exhibition space or online structure | 5 h | Develop 2 alternative floorplans or interface maps showing positioning of personas → physical: screens, projections, objects, lighting; digital: website structure, navigation grid, social-media layout → include points of interaction (where audience engages) → produce one consolidated A2 plan with technical list (equipment, cabling, upload specs). |
| Wed–Thu | 4 · Visual and Graphic Identity | Create collective visual system and promotional material | 4 h | Agree on logo, typography, colour palette, and signage system → design poster, digital invitation, and social teaser → produce a 20–30 sec trailer combining clips from each persona → define crediting format and institutional logos → ensure equal visual weight among all participants. |
| Fri | Coordination & Internal Review | Check coherence between curatorial idea and design | 1 h | Review all graphic and spatial drafts together → verify that visual identity aligns with concept statement → adjust hierarchy, pacing, and thematic transitions → record short feedback notes for Week 3 implementation. |
Outcome of Week 2: A unified curatorial design — spatial plan, graphic identity, and promotional materials coherently expressing the collective narrative.
▶ Week 3 — From framework to experience
Focus: Online/social extension, role distribution, and documentation.
| Day | Step | Focus | Time | Detailed Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Tue | 5 · Online / Social Extension | Build digital extension and audience strategy | 4 h | Create shared online space (website, Readymag, Notion, or Squarespace) → set up collective social media accounts → define content calendar (frequency, format, tone) → decide how each persona contributes (video post, dialogue, live stream) → outline strategy for audience engagement and analytics tracking. |
| Wed–Thu | 6 · Curatorial Roles and Collaboration | Assign responsibilities and integrate team workflow | 3 h | Distribute roles: Curatorial coordination, Technical realisation, Graphic design, Online management, Documentation → document decisions in a shared sheet → encourage interdisciplinary cross-support (design ↔ coding ↔ dramaturgy). |
| Fri | 7 · Reflective Documentation | Compile curatorial dossier and exhibition record | 3 h | Collect final assets: concept statement, floorplan/map, screenshots/photos, visitor reactions, analytics → write a 250-word reflection on how the exhibition mediates between human and virtual presence → format two A3 double sheets (A2) combining visuals, data, and reflection for submission. |
Outcome of Week 3: A realised exhibition ecosystem — physical and digital presentation completed, documented, and critically reflected upon as the collective closure of the Virtual Persona project.
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