BBC Natural Histoy Unit

The BBC NHU was interested in developing new ways to use it’s vast archive of sound and video.

Immersed Life: I led a research and concept develpment project exploring radically new ways to use the archive by creating multi-sensory responsive environments.

As part of a 360 degree comissioning approach to a series such as Planet Earth immersive experiences would add a compelling public and collaborative element.
The research phase: Through desk research we explored historical and contemporary examples of immersive expereinces from around the world.

The experiential phase: My research team and I visited and evaluated over 40 different environments from VR cave systems in Athens, cloud buildings on Swiss lakes to Disneyland.

Design strategy: Through in depth analysis of our visits we devised a set of recommendations for designers wanting to create powerfull immersive expereinces. The key design elements and technologies to be used in any design framework.

Concept development: Mapping the needs of the NHU to the design framework we developed and visualised three alternative natural histoy based exhibition concepts.

Each concept: Was based around a specific environment and gave the visitor a different POV with which to explore the environment (explorer, film maker, animal)

We adopted a modular structure for each concept so that content could be swaped in order to create a new environment. e.g using the same physical and technical infrastructure a tropical rain forrest at night could become an English woodland at night simply by replacing video, sound files and some props.