Rob (Ducky) Elford is a neurodivergent designer and artist.
Specialising in digital art, Elford's work explores the intersection of art and play, utilising a variety of multimedia techniques that combine animation, 3D modelling, VFX, game design and rapid prototyping. His work creates game spaces and digital artworks that explore metaphysical, historical, and possible future spaces that co-exist across virtual and physical realms.
His earlier work conceptually explored how 3D printing could forge new visual languages by merging complex digital structures with figurative sculpture. More recently, he has focused on immersive art, animation, and game design, where he delved into themes of sexual identity, discrimination, and the influence of conservative ideologies on British culture. His video game, A Mallard's Song, notably received an honourable mention at the Independent Games Festival 2023.
Elford's practice critically analyses broader cultural trends of infantilisation, referencing Professor Keith Hayward's work on Anglo-American adults' voluntary engagement in infantilised pastimes. He also explores the subversive potential of cartoon-like aesthetics, drawing upon Sianne Ngai's theory that cuteness, despite its apparent innocence, can harbour "sadistic desires for mastery and control." Elford aims to invert these power structures, transforming the "cute" object into a symbol of resistance. This academic and artistic inquiry is complemented by his teaching roles in graphic design, animation, and media production.
