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. Their work creates game spaces and digital artworks that explore metaphysical, historical, and possible future realms that coexist across virtual and physical spaces.
Their earlier work conceptually explored how 3D printing could forge new visual languages by merging complex digital structures with figurative sculpture. More recently, they have focused on immersive art, animation, and game design, exploring themes of sexual identity, discrimination, and the impact of conservative ideologies on British culture. Their 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. They also explore 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 teaching roles in graphic design, animation, and media production.
