11.15.23
Dove is putting textured hair on the map.
In partnership with Open Source Afro Hair Library, the beauty giant has launched a 360-degree photo mapping platform made by Black 3D artists so that developers can better represent Black hair textures and styles in the digital world.
The initiative – “Code My Crown” – is among the world's first complete and free guide for coding textured hair and protective styles in video games. The instructional guide helps coders and developers code more diverse, “true-to-life,” depictions of Black hairstyles in 3D to ensure more representation in the virtual world of gaming.
"At Dove, we believe every single person should see their beauty represented in the world around them – this is no different for the virtual world. The importance of accurately and respectfully depicting textured hair in video games cannot be overstated, and we are proud to play a small part in taking action to set a new standard for diversity and representation in video games," said Leandro Barreto, senior vice president, global Dove masterbrand. "There is more to be done to ensure Black gamers see themselves in the games they play, but we can't do it alone. We are calling on gaming developers and industry leaders to join us to help make virtual beauty a reality with Code My Crown."
Games ‘Poorly Represent’ Textured Hair
Millions of Black gamers play for fun, a sense of community, and self-expression – yet, for all the technological advances in the gaming industry, the depiction of textured hair and protective styles continues to be limited, often highly stereotypical, and not representative of the breadth and beauty of its real-world counterpart. Eighty-five percent of Black gamers believe video games poorly represent textured hair.
"In the real world, there is an incredible variety of Black hairstyles. But this is rarely reflected in the gaming world. When Black hair is absent from the games we play or are consistently low-quality, it communicates that Black players and our culture are an afterthought, that our stories aren't worth telling. How else can we explain the ubiquity of matted Cornrows, bald patches instead of parts, giant disco 'Fros, and the messy, Unstyled Locs? Why is a common Fade or Twist Out rarely an option?" said A.M. Darke, lead Code my Crown contributor and founder of the Open Source Afro Hair Library.
In response to learning that 74% of developers want to play a role in promoting better representation of textured hair in video games and learn how to code textured hair, Dove is taking action toward a solution. In partnership with natural hair experts, Dove and Open Source Afro Hair Library identified the top textured and protective hairstyles currently missing or misrepresented in video games.
Together, Dove and Open Source Afro Hair Library enlisted a team of Black 3D artists, animators, programmers and academics – from around the world and across the Black diaspora – to develop 15 original hair sculpts that can “lay the foundation for hundreds of virtual hair possibilities,” according to the company.
Each sculpt comes with step-by-step instructions, 360-degree photo mapping, and cultural insight so that any developer, anywhere, can better model and represent textured hair and styles in the digital world. In the absence of formal reference materials for modeling textured hair and styles, many Code my Crown artists are self-taught and their work is a result of trial, effort, and personal innovation.
"Out of hundreds of possible hairstyles to choose from in the video games I play most often, only a handful are textured hairstyles,” said Isaac Olander, lead Code My Crown developer, 3D artist and character modelling and digital sculpting expert. “It feels great to play an active role in a cause that I truly believe in. I am personally grateful to the many talented artists that have selflessly shared their knowledge before me. Their generosity has shaped my artistic journey and it feels incredibly rewarding to give back to our artistic community with this guide, by sharing my knowledge of 3D, as well as my personal experiences."
Code My Crown can be downloaded at Dove.com/CodemyCrown.
"In the real world, there is an incredible variety of Black hairstyles. But this is rarely reflected in the gaming world. When Black hair is absent from the games we play or are consistently low-quality, it communicates that Black players and our culture are an afterthought, that our stories aren't worth telling. How else can we explain the ubiquity of matted Cornrows, bald patches instead of parts, giant disco 'Fros, and the messy, Unstyled Locs? Why is a common Fade or Twist Out rarely an option?" said A.M. Darke, lead Code my Crown contributor and founder of the Open Source Afro Hair Library.
In response to learning that 74% of developers want to play a role in promoting better representation of textured hair in video games and learn how to code textured hair, Dove is taking action toward a solution. In partnership with natural hair experts, Dove and Open Source Afro Hair Library identified the top textured and protective hairstyles currently missing or misrepresented in video games.
Together, Dove and Open Source Afro Hair Library enlisted a team of Black 3D artists, animators, programmers and academics – from around the world and across the Black diaspora – to develop 15 original hair sculpts that can “lay the foundation for hundreds of virtual hair possibilities,” according to the company.
Each sculpt comes with step-by-step instructions, 360-degree photo mapping, and cultural insight so that any developer, anywhere, can better model and represent textured hair and styles in the digital world. In the absence of formal reference materials for modeling textured hair and styles, many Code my Crown artists are self-taught and their work is a result of trial, effort, and personal innovation.
"Out of hundreds of possible hairstyles to choose from in the video games I play most often, only a handful are textured hairstyles,” said Isaac Olander, lead Code My Crown developer, 3D artist and character modelling and digital sculpting expert. “It feels great to play an active role in a cause that I truly believe in. I am personally grateful to the many talented artists that have selflessly shared their knowledge before me. Their generosity has shaped my artistic journey and it feels incredibly rewarding to give back to our artistic community with this guide, by sharing my knowledge of 3D, as well as my personal experiences."
Code My Crown can be downloaded at Dove.com/CodemyCrown.