Prospect North
Virtual Reality & Visual Media Engagement
BRIEF
The Scottish Government commissioned a national exhibit to represent Scotland at the 2016 Venice Biennale.
The response from the dynamic design collective appointed was ‘Prospect North’ – an exhibit that focussed on Scotland’s past, present, and future.
The initial intention was to deliver these narratives using a unique, undulating timber sculpture representing a map of Scotland and the Arctic Circle from the north down, and designed specifically for the stunning former convent in which the exhibit was hosted.
Approach
Through an excellent working relationship with Lateral North, we were able to develop several unique AR and VR components that formed central components of the exhibit.
All of these components focussed on adding a memorable, highly engaging, participatory digital layer to the audience experience, using state-of-the-art technology. This was juxtaposed with the simple, beautiful, formic nature of the sculpture and the medieval building context.
AR and VR allowed us to tie back and ‘transport’ the viewer to Scotland from Venice, using the physicality of the sculptural components to act as direct triggers for video and graphical content. This content then allowed Scotland and its communities to tell their own stories.
The final exhibit consisted of an augmented sculpture, augmented artwork, augmented plinths, and multiple VR experiences (in geometric animal heads…).
OUTCOME
The exhibit was a huge success with tremendous feedback from our clients and collaborators, and wide acclaim from the design, construction, and mainstream press.
The public feedback was also exceptional, with festival attendees often spending more than double the average Biennale visit time at the exhibit. Prospect North also represented Scotland at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland, toured throughout Scotland, and provided a springboard for spin-off projects as far away as Alaska.
“Was so great and we have been getting such a great response. Unbelievable.
The 360 experience and augmented window in particular are going down an absolute storm.
Yesterday we had an MP in and he was absolutely loving it.”
Lateral North
