The Challenge
The challenge of this project was to create a fully explorable virtual shopping environment using a real-time pipeline, balancing architectural accuracy, visual consistency, performance, and interactivity. The scope covered the complete production process from large-scale architectural modeling to detailed asset creation and real-time implementation in Unreal Engine.
A key challenge was the architectural modeling of the shopping structure, ensuring correct proportions, circulation flow, and spatial coherence across a complex environment. Each shop façade was modeled with its own identity while preserving a unified architectural language. In addition, every store required full interior modeling, including furniture and custom assets, all optimized for real-time use through modular design and efficient topology.
Texturing was handled in Substance Painter using a PBR workflow, with optimized UV layouts supporting both texture quality and lightmap requirements. Once integrated into Unreal Engine, the focus shifted to scene organization, lighting, and performance optimization across a large, asset-dense environment.
The project was completed with the implementation of Blueprint-based interactivity, enabling dynamic behaviors and user interaction throughout the shopping space. The objective was to deliver a cohesive, production-ready real-time experience, demonstrating full pipeline ownership from modeling and texturing to engine integration and interactivity.
Levels Environtment Stills
3D MODELING AND ASSET PRODUCTION PIPELINE
The shopping environment, including architecture, retail spaces, and assets, was fully modeled in 3ds Max using an optimized, modular approach for Unreal Engine. Clean topology, efficient UVs, and PBR textures created in Photoshop and Substance Painter ensured smooth real-time performance and consistent visual quality.
CUSTOM SHOP FACADE MODELING
Each shop façade was custom modeled based on real-world retail references, carefully translating proportions, materials, and branding details into optimized real-time assets while maintaining a cohesive architectural language across the shopping environment.
Tech & Fly Shop
Doohan Shop
LOW POLY MODELING AND OPTIMIZATION IN MAYA
Each environment was built using an optimized low-poly modeling approach, carefully balancing shape readability and performance. Assets were designed modularly to maximize reuse across multiple levels, while maintaining clean topology, efficient UV layouts, and reduced draw calls suitable for mobile production constraints.
