BIMA Open Studio Day | Curated by the Immersive  Tech Think Tank and Virtual Umbrella

Whilst there is a lot of technology powering the day to day of brand communications, service design and product development, the approaching wave of immersive technologies- specifically VR/AR- brings with it impending change and immense opportunity. It also brings with it some confusion about how agencies and brand should approach using the technologies and how it fits into their strategy.

To dispel some of this confusion the BIMA Immersive Technologies Think Tank- made up of 10 of the foremost thinkers in the world of Immersive Tech- has curated a set of the best Immersive Studios in the UK. Come, explore what Immersive Tech studios have to offer and play with some of their toys.

Studios will be presenting some of their case studies and sharing their view on XR trends. After that, you will have the opportunity to get your hands on some of their kit.

Agenda of the day:

10.00- Arrival

10.30- Presentations

11.15- Explore & play

What are you waiting for? Scroll through the studios and sign up to attend (limited spaces available). If you have any questions, please email alise@bima.co.uk

Studios:

Mixed Immersion | London

Mixed Immersion is the World’s First Audio Effects Company (AFX), using the latest format of 3D, spatial audio to create believe soundscapes, soundtracks, atmospheres and environments which transform the way in which audiences hear and experience sound.

The company, founded by a collective of pioneers in 3D Cinematic Audio, Film Sound Design, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, provide the very highest levels of Audio-Lead, Location-Based Experiences. They are the Immersive Audio company of choice for the London Based, Philharmonia Orchestra and work with an elite of Composers, Orchestrators, Singers, Musicians and performers, therefore enabling full production across all forms of audio and music. In an ever ‘Immersive’ marketplace, sound is constantly overlooked yet is arguably more important than visuals in convincing the mind that we are present in such environments as VR, AR and Experiential.

As the Oscar Winning Director, Danny Boyle, says “70, 80 percent of a movie is sound.. and you don’t realise that because you can’t see it’. This is even more the case when eyes and ears need to help persuade the brain that the reality is an alternative one.

Surround Vision | London

Surround Vision is an award-winning VR studio based in Brick Lane, London. We craft intimate, thought provoking films which engage a global audience in unique and innovative ways. Our team includes some of the most experienced VR producers and directors in the world, and we work with progressive brands and agencies around the world:

-360º & VR CONTENT STUDIO

-PHOTOGRAMMETRY & VOLUMETRIC CAPTURE

-VR/AR GAME PRODUCTION

Our approach is simple; mixing choreographed intimacy with state-of-the-art 360° documentary capture. We pride ourselves on delivering impactful and beautiful content for our clients.

Make Real | Brighton

Make Real have been creating immersive simulation, training, learning and development and consumer gaming products for over a decade under their moniker “Serious Fun”. With clients and partners ranging from McDonald’s, EDF Energy and Vodafone, and award-winning VR gaming titles on Oculus Rift & Go, HTC Vive and Sony PlayStation VR, Make Real are experienced in deploying enterprise and consumer products at scale.

Visit the studio based in Brighton to meet the games-industry pedigree design and development team, learn from the business development team what makes immersive technologies click with clients and get to try out some of the non-public facing experiences that have been making waves since deployment across the corporate sectors.

Imagination |London

Imagination is an independent global creative agency established in 1968. We work seamlessly as one. Transforming business through creativity, we create world-class, connected brand experiences. Our unique blend of business, strategy, technology, production and creative know-how lets us create any experience we can imagine.

We measure the impact of everything we do. The analytics from our experiences drive data insights and continual improvement, because we make them smart and connected through technology. Imagination’s clients include 3M, Ford, Major League Baseball, Shell, Jaguar Land Rover, HSBC, Telstra, Delphi, and Canon. We use immersive technology to create stories, experiences and tools for our clients that produce measurable business impact.

Using Virtual Reality (VR) technology, we’ve created shared social experiences, launched products simultaneously worldwide, and brought projects to life as part of the immersive brand experiences we produce for our clients. You’ll be able to experience our VR work for yourself at BIMA’s Studio Open Door Day. 

VRCraftworks | Brighton

VRCraftworks is an immersive agency. We make bespoke content and the disruption of the content. Winin VR, AR, 360-degrees (Photo & Video) and MR.

Our new software. Allows for a high-end VR experience on a smartphone within an app. We can now use VR to generate revenue or leads for a company. This isn’t “VR Fluff” anymore, this is part of a consumers journey.

Our platform that allows 2 or more people in the same 360-degrees photo at the same time. Loads of different sectors can use it. Virtual school trips, real estate agents, architects, designers, storytelling, family memories and more.

Igloo Vision | London

Igloo is the shared VR company. We take any VR or 360° content and put it in a shared immersive space anyone can use. It’s a bit like stepping into a huge VR headset. And, because groups of people can get inside, it’s always a shared experience. So it’s great for entertainment and experiences. It’s also perfect for collaborative teamwork and training.

At our Wood Green studios in North London, we have a couple of Igloos for you to try out (a 6-metre cylinder and a 2.5-metre cube). You can speak to our product development and software teams. You can see a range of shared VR content and gaming experiences. And, from our work with many of the world’s leading tech companies, we can give you an insight into what’s happening in the world of immersive experiences.

Rewind | St. Albans

REWIND is an immersive content studio with a passion for VR, AR, MR, and beyond. By fusing bleeding-edge technology with award-winning creative storytelling, REWIND leads the way in innovative content creation and delivers immersive experiences for the world’s largest studios, agencies, and brands.

As technology advances, immersive mediums will become essential engagement channels for brands. Join REWIND to learn how marketers can break through the clutter with these new engagement tools, and get hands-on with some tech.

Draw & Code| Liverpool

Draw & Code create XR products, work with innovation-minded clients and engage in R&D that pushes augmented, virtual and mixed reality into new places. The 16-strong team of creative technologists have produced experiences for the likes of Nokia, Hyundai, Red Bull and Warner Bros.

Draw & Code are using the knowledge gathered working on ambitious client projects to feed into their own products. The first of these to hit the market will be SwapBots – an AR-infused toy and game that has garnered multiple awards. Partnerships with leading technology providers are another key feature of Draw & Code’s work, allowing them to offer the chance to try the very latest hardware and software to those who take the time to visit their Liverpool studio.

Jaunt | London 

 Jaunt is the global partner of choice for producing and distributing immersive content, including virtual, augmented and mixed reality, interactive and 6DOF. With over 350 immersive productions, Jaunt’s full-service global production studios develop award winning branded content, co-productions and original experiences for entertainment and enterprise customers. Jaunt’s state of the art immersive content distribution technology, the Jaunt XR Platform, is the white label solution of choice for telecoms and media companies, sports leagues, brands, content aggregators and enterprise customers; enabling distribution of immersive content through their owned and operated channels. Come and learn more about Jaunt and how immersive content and seamless distribution can help your business succeed at our offices in Clerkenwell. 

• We’ll explain the dynamics of the industry and the opportunities available for all businesses.
• Discover the creative process and how storytelling differs in immersive media from our multi award winning creative production team.
• Understand the challenges of distribution and how our technology solutions provide a definitive answer.
Try out the latest consumer technology across all platforms and prepare to be amazed!

Cooperative Innovations | Leeds

Cooperative Innovations is a development studio focused on delivering high-quality immersive experiences, games and applications. The majority of our recent projects have been VR and featuring multi-user aspects. Recent clients include Framestore, BBC and out-of-home entertainment creative agencies.

As part of our open-door day we will be presenting our recent projects and approach to development and allowing attendees to try out several of our VR experiences. Cooperative Innovations is located at  Platform, New Station Street, Leeds, LS1 4JB.

George P Johnson | London

GPJ are an experience marketing agency constantly searching for new disciplines and channels to match the aspirations and vision of our clients. As a result, we’ve got to know a thing or two about digital trends and innovation – including, of course XR.

We’ve delivered VR, WebVR and AR experiences for the likes of IBM, AT&T and Nikon. Solutions where the tech has played a genuine role in the communication. Strategically incorporated as part of an omnichannel journey. Never simply bolted-on because it’s the latest innovation ‘in vogue’. Our solutions generate real results. They work – in the real world.

We’ll help you embrace XR as a as a very real marketing tool. Ensuring it’s an integral part of the marketing mix and the starting point to a successful campaign. Come and visit the GPJ offices to find out how GPJ can help tell your story and capture people’s attention.

vismedia.agency | London

vismedia.agency is home to a team of creative technologists who fuse traditional video and animation creation with immersive 360° experiences, VR and AR.

Co-located in Shoreditch and Plexal, East London, we are first and foremost storytellers, using the latest advances in browser technology to add multiple layers to the narrative. In addition, we create apps and build next generation websites. Current clients include AstraZeneca, AkzoNobel, Barclays, Cory Riverside Energy, DS Smith, HSBC, Intercontinental Hotels Group, TetraPak and Unilever.

Join us to see how we are helping the above clients to engage with their internal and external audiences in new and exciting ways

PRELOADED | London

PRELOADED is a London-based game studio, using the power of play to reinvent the way organisations connect with audiences. Collaborating with ambitious partners, such as LEGO, Tate, Google, HTC VIVE, BBC and the Science Museum, we make games and immersive experiences that have purpose, and that place the user at the center of the design process.

Join us to learn more about how we approach designing immersive experiences and get a deep-dive on some of our most successful projects, including BBC Earth: Life in VR and Tate’s Modigliani VR – The Ochre Atelier. Also, get hands on with WIP and test-drive some of the latest technology including Vive Pro, Vive Focus and Lenvo Mirage. We’ll also make a pot of tea!