ESP Biography



ALYSSA WALN, Junior Who Likes Costumes. A Lot.




Major: Course 6-3: Computer Science

College/Employer: MIT

Year of Graduation: 2016

Picture of Alyssa Waln

Brief Biographical Sketch:

4 year Fanime convention veteran. Has made costumes including partial body armor, clothes from scratch, prop weapons, and other miscellaneous props including horns, helms, and headphones. Past projects include Ezio Auditore from Assassin's Creed II, Raki from Claymore (Manga), Loki's Helmet, the Energy Sword from Halo, and one Long Fall Boot from Portal. Current project: Ike and Marth.



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

A9513: Gesture Drawing in HSSP Summer 2015 (Jul. 12, 2015)
Learn to rapidly capture the form of a person, animal, or object. The class will focus on quick sketches of people, hands, feet, animals, and draped cloth using life and pictures for reference.


V7561: Cosplay, Propmaking, and Design, Version II: Electric Boogaloo in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
Perhaps you've heard of this class. Perhaps you've even taken it. Perhaps, then, you also remember me not having time to say all the things despite talking far too fast. BAM. Not anymore. Now a 2 hour class. Material is actually probably more like 1.5 hours, so possibly time for discussion and personal projects. Topics include design, patterns, basic convention etiquette, basic tools, and all the materials I have the experience to be teaching about, which as of writing includes hard plastics, thermomorph, fabrics, foam, and some basic woodworking. Also painting and weathering, which are universal across those materials, for the most part.


V7562: Cosplay, Propmaking, and Design: Short Version in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
The original 1-hour class. A very quick speedthrough of some key topics, including design, patterns, basic convention etiquette, basic tools, and all the materials I have the experience to be teaching about, which as of writing includes hard plastics, thermomorph, fabrics, foam, and some basic woodworking. Also painting and weathering, which are universal across those materials, for the most part.


A7006: BATTLEAXES!! in Spark! 2013 (Mar. 16, 2013)
Do you like prop weapons? WE DO. Come learn the ins and outs of building your own battleaxe, hammer, spear, what-have-you out of foam. Class will cover basic construction techniques for costume props and include a hands-on session where students will learn how to carve and paint pink insulation foam. Dueling may ensue. :D


A7037: Cosplay, Propmaking, and Design in Spark! 2013 (Mar. 16, 2013)
[Note: This will be the exact same class taught at Splash under the same name.] I like cosplay. Do you like cosplay? I’ll be talking about the costumes I’ve made, the mistakes I made along the way and how to avoid them, Things to Consider when designing from a reference photo, materials that work, materials that don’t, and a few tips and tricks to make you stand out. There will be time for general questions about cosplay and conventions, or cosplay-specific questions if you’re in a bind and need some ideas.


A6164: Cosplay, Propmaking, and Design in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
I like cosplay. Do you like cosplay? I'll be talking about the costumes I've made, the mistakes I made along the way and how to avoid them, Things to Consider when designing from a reference photo, materials that work, materials that don't, and a few tips and tricks to make you stand out. There will be time for general questions about cosplay and conventions, or cosplay-specific questions if you're in a bind and need some ideas.


W6691: Set-tlers of Awesome in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
Learn how to play Set, an addicting, fast paced mind and strategy game that's both easy to learn and fun to play alone or in a group. If you already know how to play Set, come by for a game or two! We'll also be playing Settlers of Catan, a different game of strategy and conquer; beginners and experts welcome!