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My Role

A/V Engineer

Timeline

09.23 - 05.24

Tools

TD, Python

Project Type

Project

"Escape Room"

Engineering Immersive Reality,
The Elysian Heights Cue System

Engineering Immersive Reality,
The Elysian Heights Cue System

Designing and building a custom, real-time audiovisual synchronization system for a large-scale, location-based experience.

Designing and building a custom, real-time audiovisual synchronization system for a large-scale, location-based experience.

100%

100%

Of the 13 Showings successfully Ran with 0 Technical Errors or System Restarts.

500+

500+

Unique Individuals got to come together to experience Elysian Heights,

TOP 9%

TOP 9%

Of Global Submissions for 2024 YUGO BAFTA,

CONTEXT

Experience Designer First,
Engineer Second

Experience Designer First,
Engineer Second

Before I wrote a single line of code, I spent my first month embedded with the creative team. My initial role was technical, but I quickly realized that in an immersive experience, every technical decision has a direct impact on the audience's emotional journey.

How can technology become an invisible medium for storytelling?

How do we ensure technical systems are not just functional, but emotionally resonant?

What is the line between an impressive tech demo and a genuinely moving experience?

TEAM DYNAMIC

A 30-Person Interdisciplinary Team Finds Success in a Technical-Creative Merge.

A 30-Person Interdisciplinary Team Finds Success in a Technical-Creative Merge.

Our cohort was a blend of artists, writers, and engineers. My unique position was to act as the bridge between the creative vision and the technical execution.

Our cohort was a blend of artists, writers, and engineers. My unique position was to act as the bridge between the creative vision and the technical execution.

I had a deep understanding of the engineering required for real-time AV synchronization.

I understood the artistic goals and could translate them into a technical roadmap.

I had a team of creative stakeholders to test and validate the experiential impact of my systems.

Problem [For the Team]

Manual Control is a recipe for Failure.

Problem [For the Team]

Manual Control is a recipe for Failure.

Problem [For the Audience]

The Slightest Technical Flaw Shatters the Magic.

Problem [For the Audience]

The Slightest Technical Flaw Shatters the Magic.

KEY INSIGHT

The best technology in an immersive experience is the technology you never notice. The system itself shouldn't be the star. Its only job is to be so reliable and seamless that it becomes completely invisible, allowing the art to take center stage.

The best technology in an immersive experience is the technology you never notice. The system itself shouldn't be the star. Its only job is to be so reliable and seamless that it becomes completely invisible, allowing the art to take center stage.

PROCESS

My most important role wasn't just coding—it was translation. I worked side by side with the creative director in "jam sessions," not to discuss code, but to discuss feelings. We would walk through the narrative beat by beat, and I would map her creative goals to specific technical requirements.

My most important role wasn't just coding—it was translation. I worked side by side with the creative director in "jam sessions," not to discuss code, but to discuss feelings. We would walk through the narrative beat by beat, and I would map her creative goals to specific technical requirements.

"at this moment, it should feel chaotic and overwhelming"

"at this moment, it should feel chaotic and overwhelming"

TESTING

We conducted two playtests. The first was to stress-test the whole experience to identify key gaps. The second was to implement that feedback to refine and polish the user journey for the final release.

We conducted two playtests. The first was to stress-test the whole experience to identify key gaps. The second was to implement that feedback to refine and polish the user journey for the final release.

RESULTS

Delivered a Flawless Live Experience & Gained International Recognition

Delivered a Flawless Live Experience & Gained International Recognition

My custom-built system was the technical backbone of the project, achieving 100% reliability and directly contributing to its success.

My custom-built system was the technical backbone of the project, achieving 100% reliability and directly contributing to its success.

100%

100%

Of the 13 Showings successfully Ran with 0 Technical Errors or System Restarts.

Of the 13 Showings successfully Ran with 0 Technical Errors or System Restarts.

500+

500+

Unique Individuals got to come together to experience Elysian Heights,

Unique Individuals got to come together to experience Elysian Heights,

TOP 9%

TOP 9%

Of Global Submissions for 2024 YUGO BAFTA,

Of Global Submissions for 2024 YUGO BAFTA,

FINALLY

Some Takeaways…

Some Takeaways…

Before I wrote a single line of code, I spent my first month embedded with the creative team. My initial role was technical, but I quickly realized that in an immersive experience, every technical decision has a direct impact on the audience's emotional journey.

Before I wrote a single line of code, I spent my first month embedded with the creative team. My initial role was technical, but I quickly realized that in an immersive experience, every technical decision has a direct impact on the audience's emotional journey.

Design for Invisibility. In experiential projects, the best-designed system is one the audience never thinks about. My goal was to make the technology disappear so the story could shine.

Design for Invisibility. In experiential projects, the best-designed system is one the audience never thinks about. My goal was to make the technology disappear so the story could shine.

Be a Translator, Not Just a Builder. My most valuable skill was my ability to speak both "creative" and "engineer." Understanding the artistic why behind a technical what leads to a much stronger final product.

Be a Translator, Not Just a Builder. My most valuable skill was my ability to speak both "creative" and "engineer." Understanding the artistic why behind a technical what leads to a much stronger final product.

In Live Events, Reliability is the Core Feature. Unlike a website where you can push a fix, a live show has no second chances. I learned to design and test for absolute, "zero-bug" reliability under pressure.


In Live Events, Reliability is the Core Feature. Unlike a website where you can push a fix, a live show has no second chances. I learned to design and test for absolute, "zero-bug" reliability under pressure.


There's a lot more to see behind the scenes :)

Please reach out to me if you'd like to learn more! I love walking people through the detailed TouchDesigner network, the custom UI I built for the operators, and the specific technical challenges we overcame.


There's a lot more to see behind the scenes :)

Please reach out to me if you'd like to learn more! I love walking people through the detailed TouchDesigner network, the custom UI I built for the operators, and the specific technical challenges we overcame.


“Art is solving problems that cannot be formulated before they have been solved. The shaping of the question is part of the answer.”

Pete Hein, Architect, Poet & Mathematician

Sarvesh

“Art is solving problems that cannot be formulated before they have been solved. The shaping of the question is part of the answer.”

Pete Hein, Architect, Poet & Mathematician

Sarvesh

“Art is solving problems that cannot be formulated before they have been solved. The shaping of the question is part of the answer.”

Pete Hein, Architect, Poet & Mathematician

Sarvesh