Worldcon 2015

[gfish]

A couple years ago, watching the livestream of the Hugo ceremony, I joked I should have a Hugo base design in mind, just in case I was ever asked to make one. See, the base is different every year, usually made by a local artist. Not long after making that joke, some pretty cool ideas for a base popped into my head. So I decided to look into the process. Turns out, for the last ~10 years, it has been chosen as part of an open competition that anyone can enter. That was intriguing. And also right about then, it was revealed that Spokane would be hosting Worldcon in 2015, a frankly ridiculous turn of events. I'm from Spokane. I'd be a local artist. I had to submit something. It was, and I mean this in the least ironic way possible, a moral imperative.

For all of last year I had a background task thinking about how to construct it, taking a welding class just to build some new skills I'd need. Last September, I started prototyping. I ended up making a total of 9 different versions from paper, plastic and metal. I invented an entirely new workflow using 3D modeling, waterjet cutting, steel origami and 3D printed magnetic jigs. The end result was even better than I had originally imagined, if I do say so myself. I submitted it, and all but held my breath for 2 weeks.

And... I won.

So, yeah, I'm making the Hugo bases this year. For a Worldcon in Spokane, where I attended my first con 22 years ago. I'm making the bases for the Hugo, an award that means more to me personally than all four of the EGOTs combined. A name that has graced the cover of pretty much all the most important books in my life, the ones that fundamentally changed the way I view the world and myself. One of my bases will join the Hugo retrospective exhibit, taken to every Worldcon from now until the end of science fiction. It's just unreal. I've known for a few days now, and I'm still wrapping my head around it.

Comments

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

Wow.
Congratulations! I'm looking forwards to seeing what they look like.

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

That's marvelous - congrats!

[ivy]

I love it when a plan comes together! Congratulations; that's amazing!

[caladri.livejournal.com]

Wow, congratulations! That is just amazing and wonderful!

[corivax.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

[johno.livejournal.com]

Congrats.

[eub.livejournal.com]

That's so cool! GIFs to follow in due course?

[nojay.livejournal.com]

Not until after the Hugo Award ceremony in August -- the base design is kept confidential until then.

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

I believe they plan to reveal the design at Opening Ceremonies.

[nojay.livejournal.com]

"You got lucky!"

"Hey, do you know how much effort and sweat I put into this?"

"Like I said, you got lucky. The more work you did preparing and planning, training and designing, the luckier you got. Funny how that works out, isn't it?"

Congratulations. There are over thirty people and organisations that will win a Hugo in a given year, there is only one Hugo base designer. You are IT this year.

Don't forget to mention it in your resume.

[slantiness.livejournal.com]

You obviously deserve it!!!!!!!! You're so qualified. The stuff you make is crazy and great and high quality. And is the stuff you make also eligible for a hugo? Cause if so...

[gfish.livejournal.com]

"Related Works" is a pretty broad category, so I guess that could work? There is always Fan Artist, but while I am a fan and an artist, I'm not really a fan artist. I think making the base is as close as I'll ever get to winning one, and that's already 100% closer than I ever thought I'd get. :)

[slantiness.livejournal.com]

I think we're all thinking that creating the base is quite possibly much cooler than winning one.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Wow, congratulations! I'm so looking forward to seeing the design, after the Hugos, of course.

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

Well done! Amazing effort, and it's paid off. Award yourself a prototype Hugo. :)

[novalis.livejournal.com]

Holy shit! I can't wait to see it!

[katyhh.livejournal.com]

Absolutely fabulous! Congratulations!

[bigbumble.livejournal.com]

From all the processes that are going into making the base, it should be quite remarkable. Congrats!

[k-crow.livejournal.com]

EEEEE!!!!! That is completely awesome! Congratulations! =)

[felisdemens.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Cool! Congratulations.

Suddenly I'm imagining a gantry for that rocketship....

[gement.livejournal.com]

I am so very, very excited for you. (And if it's the one I saw a bit of in draft form, they have excellent taste.)

I love the part where you actually train up for things so you can do them. It adds a sense of 80s power chords to the whole thing.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Little known fact: If you play my life back at 1/10,000 speed, you can hear Mr. Miyagi saying something inspirational.

[maribou]

Holy geezers! What delightful news.

[solarbird]

Oh good, you can talk about it now! Congratulations again. :D

[tereshkova2001.livejournal.com]

This: the Hugo retrospective exhibit, taken to every Worldcon from now until the end of science fiction. This is really cool. That made me shiver.

[beaq.livejournal.com]

I KNEW HIM WHEN

[filkferengi]

Gibraltar called & said, "That rocks!" Congratulations!

[ilcylic.livejournal.com]

Oh.

Wow.

That's... that's fucking awesome.

Go you. Congratulations. :D