Kenzo W

Digital Newsroom.pdf

Digital Newsroom Revolution: AI Journalists (AI Journalism Module, Bosnia 2023)

Throughout this module we learned about the connections between AI and journalism. We also focused on learning about the different branches and forms of journalism articles, and for my summative I had chosen to write an opinion-based article that answers the driving question. My final project product is a news article that uses inputs from professionals and my own to answer questions and bring thoughts to the debate of AI and journalism.

The news article I wrote for my project was definitely a new experience for me. I was really glad I got the experience to work in the field and learn from professionals and being able to their ideas into my own article. I also enjoyed writing in this new format and having the freedom to write about the driving question, which I found was both interesting and urgent as the rise of AI has been rapid in the past years.

Trapeze and Water Safety: Over and Under, Air, Water & Physics (Australia, 2023)

Our module focused on learning about the physics behind human performance in the air and water through water safety and trapeze activities. My project focused on creating a short 7 minute film focusing on communicating or experience as a module. Not only does this include the science behind the activities we did, but also expressing what it felt like and my personal takeaways from doing these activities.

A big portion of this project for me was physical and mental growth. For trapeze, I aways got nervous due to heights and swinging around at fast velocities, but I overcame those challenges as I learned new tricks and skills.

Copy of OverAndUnderSummative | Kenzo Wei.mp4

Tale of Two Cities: Module of Architecture and Culture (Japan, 2024)

In this project, I created an architectural design and model of a modern Japanese resort home to be placed in Japan. In my design, I incorporated Japanese architectural concepts to accommodate its residents, emulate the Japanese lifestyle, and design with artistic and aesthetic choices that consider the environment. I created a physical model of my house to showcase it's basic shape, a detailed digital model with interior, furniture, materials, and proper measurements, and I imported my digital model into a VR headset to create an immersive experience.

While I had a lot of background knowledge in this field before this module and experience modeling/handling 3D design software, I learned more about artistic intent and cultural representation in a unique artistic form, architecture. I was also able to represent my own and other students models in VR, which was a fun opportunity to provide an immersive experience. I was also able to connect my skills from multiple software and platforms, including Blender, Sweet Home 3D, and Unity for VR viewing.

Digital model of my house design, both exterior and interior looks. (viewed in program sweet home 3D.)

You're So Eco: Module of Ecotourism and (Brazil, 2024)

Throughout this project, not only was I able to engage with Global Awareness through understanding of the natural ecosystems and habitats within ecotourism, but also the tourism systems within and outside of Greece. My process towards this project allowed me to learn about Greece’s history and current day situation in regards to the countries state of economic, environmental, and tourism sectors. Furthermore, I was able to create my own ecotour that explore my personal interested through a logical and methodical learning process after understanding what makes an ecotour and the various crises and principles ecotourism follows. My final product was a 45 minute walking/hiking ecotour where I was able to educate my tourists about sustainable principles, some of the life on Agistri, and present examples of harmful human impact on natural ecosystems. Not only was I able to conduct my summative with a change in partner, but I was able to properly address and present my planned ecotourism principles and crises factors. Below, you can see my tour brochure who was in collaboration with another student and our advertisement that showcases what our tour would look like.

Copy of OxossiRenderAnim2MovSkyBlue.m4v

Imagining Brazilian Beasts: Personal Project (Brazil, 2024)

Using the 3D artistic modeling software Blender, I created my own artistic vision of the Orixá (god) Oxóssi from Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian Religion I learned about during my time in Salvador, Brazil. The figure I modeled, Oxóssi, is the Orixá in Candomblé that symbolizes the abundance of nature, forests, and the hunt. He is depicted as a very clever and accurate hunter, which is why in most artworks Oxóssi only carries one arrow, representing his accuracy. His personality is that of a caring and protective man and is associated with concepts of survival and provisioning.

I chose to model Oxóssi in particular because of the aesthetics and values he represents. I have always had a passion for caring about the natural environment and resonated with the values Oxóssi represented. Furthermore, the visual colors of green and power shown in his archery and stances were appealing to me as an artist and created a desire for me to challenge myself with such an artwork.

Within the model, I utilized colors such as a turquoise background and green elements of his equipment to create visual contrast. I also recreated some aspects of his equipment that is depicted in common artworks of Oxóssi, in particular his clothing, bracelets, and headwear with leaves. While his bow is based off a simple recurve bow, I used creative freedom to represent his arrow, where most of his power would manifest. Using shading techniques, I aimed to model a metaphysical arrow that is a manifestation of the power he holds as an Orixá which is why it does not consists of physical colors and texture.

Lastly, being mindful of the time restraints I had with this project, I chose to focus on mainly the body and physique using sculpting technique, which was where a majority of my time was spent on the project. I also chose not to model the face, hands, and feet in detail, as in artworks I have seen keeping the facial features blank is a more accurate depiction of all the variations of the Orixá, and I would not have enough time to finish this project if I had to model and rig individual fingers and toes.

If you wish to see more of my design process, you can look at my process portfolio linked in here. This contains multiple screenshots of my 3D art process, thinking behind artistic decisions for cultural or aesthetic reasons, and how I initially changed subjects from a creature to a character.

Copy of Imagining Brazilian Beasts Prop | Kenzo W Brazil 2024

Vietnam Games, Vietnam Personal Project, 2025

Throughout this project, not only was I able to explore the culture of vietnam through a very engaging and immersive medium that is escape room, but I was also able to evolve my project from initially card games into a project geared towards escape rooms and their economic and philosophical implications. My approach to this project was flexible resulting in my project changing, but this led me to have a variety of experiences and variety of learning opportunities in different subjects. This led to my summative escape room design being a rudimentary 3D model containing 3 different puzzles with a non-convetional theme of opposites. I wanted to create my summative escape room without a story theme because of my interest in how philosophy can be incorporated. Furthermore, I wanted to try a making an escape room design that was different from the rooms I experienced in Vietnam ranging from coffee, spy, horror, or fantasy based themes. Lastly, I not only learned about what goes into good escape room design through puzzles and difficulty, but also the economic reasoning behind the growing escape room industry and how the escape room industry may evolve with digital technology such as VR.

Below you can find my process portfolio, which contains resources, notes, and reflections of my learning journey as well as my final summative 3D escape room design.

Copy of Kenzo W | Vietnam Games | Personal Project | Vietnam 2025

Commedia Dell'Arte and theatre: Behind the Curtains (Italy, 2025)

Module Summary: In this module, students will develop their creativity through the Italian performing art of Commedia Dell’Arte. They will develop skills in improvisation, acting, character development, costume design (mask-making specifically), and theatre studies. Students will collaborate to produce and perform a scripted piece (adapted or original) that expresses their understanding of Commedia Dell’Arte techniques, masks, and human expression.

This project was such a different and, in a way, challenging yet rewarding experience when it came to the creativity of acting. Originally, I came into this module to challenge myself as I had never done a stage performance/theatre and was convinced I never would due to its embarrassing and nerve-racking nature, yet this module helped me be exposed to the joyful and enlightening side of theatre. The project in its entire process helped me have a very strong shift in my mentality, and drew the most out of my potential by getting myself to commit my entire body and personality into the sake of the performance. This was evident in my final product, when the entire module performed our Commedia Dell’Arte performance. I had to improvise, embody, and be humorous as my character, while also shifting into other characters in different acts, showcasing how far my acting skills have come. Not only was the presentation of the summative entertaining, the experience also gave me a new sense of joy among my module members, accomplishing such a performance. Furthermore, various experiences during this term through mask making or acting activities helped me explore different sides of my mentality and what it means to be myself or act as another person, allowing me to physically present my engagement with this module.

Below, you can find a YouTube link to our summative performance, which showcases our entire module's performance acting as the Commedia Dell'Arte stock characters.

Marine seeds of change - Genki Balls (Service Learning)

Collaborating with the Genki Ala Wai Project, I deployed 1000 Genki Balls into my local yacht club for marine conservation. Working with volunteers, local stakeholders, and being broadcasted on Hawaii News Now gave me the opportunity to spread this new innovative solution for bioremediation.

While this project as most service learning projects are full of times when adaptability is a necessary skill, I was able to both provide service to my community, work with existing organizations and my mentor, and have a larger impact than I initially was anticipating and planning for. This project has come a long way full of it’s own hurdles, yet I was both fortunate and motivated to be able to work with my community and connections in Hawaii, allowing this project to take place. I was not only able to completely accomplish my action, deploying 1000 Genki Balls in my yacht club, but I was able to get the help and support of 30+ volunteers and reach a larger audience when my project reached my local news network. My priority was to help the marine environment, and I was able to do so after researching and finding such an innovative, cost-effective, natural, and engaging solution. Yet, I was able to create a large human impact, initially outside of the scope of my project to educate individuals from a variety of backgrounds.

Below is my summative video, where I documented and created a 5 minute video to both advertise and showcase my learning journey throughout this project, which I gave to the organization I worked with for their own usage. You can also find my TGS Symposium Service Learning Presentation below, where I presented my project during the Symposium end of year event.

Marine Seeds of Change - Genki Balls by Kenzo W v2.mp4

Link to Symposium Presentation (Italy 2025)

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