RemixWorkshop at Build 2017
Entrance to the space, complete with “I feel inspired when _____” prompt cards for participants to write.
Role: Experiential designer, PM, and photographer
Creative team: Jessica Merizan, Anna Soracco, Suzy Gillet, Chris Kent, Sheri Turner, and Adriana Castro Ruiz
When we were informed that mixed reality would have a sizable presence at Microsoft’s Build conference my team was tasked with brining our demo space to life. The team I sat on, at the time, was the community team and our fearless leader (Jessica) had a way of inspiring ultimate creative expression in all of us. What we came up with was a space that truly felt like we had thought of everything.
Modeled after the Instagram account I ran with the same name (@RemixWorkshop) the space was built out with floor to ceiling textured walls, bright inviting lights, and a bespoke feel of a high-budget pop-up. There were demos, a “TedTalk”-esque speaker section with programming, a passport to collect stamps in, a DJ, an interactive prompt wall, and even a signature scent.
Part of the immersive, photo-booth set for one of the demos.
The Windows logo in flower-form. (This took way too many hours and way too much hot glue to admit to.)
Physical Space
The demos were arranged around the perimeter of the space in expert fashion by Jessica and Anna. My main contributions to the physical space were the naming of the coffee bar as well as supporting the programming for the “speaker corner.” We had live, artist demos and others from the mixed reality space speak about their work.
In the center of the space was the DJ booth where one of our music directors played music through the Groove app all afternoon. It was also extremely important to Jessica that we have a signature scent for the space, something I keep in mind every time I design a space to this day. Ours was the candle scent “Volcano.”
Seating with cozy pillows and blankets for presentation viewers.
Graphic art by Chris, featured throughout the space.
The coffee bar, “Creativity Brewing”.
Gamification
Participation was encouraged in so many ways within the Remix Workshop space. At face value; the main reason our space existed was for Build conference goers to get to experience the mixed reality demos Microsoft had built. However, we wanted to create a truly memorable experience, so there were other ways participants could enjoy the space as well.
Our three main ways were: the speakers corner, filled with programming on all things mixed reality; the entry-way prompt wall, and the passports. The passports were created as part map / wayfinding for the space, but also as a fun way to encourage visitors to see as many, if not all, of the demos in the space. We printed out passports to give out upon entry and, for each demo visited, a participant received a stamp of completion.
The wall of prompts. Visitors were encouraged to participate by filling out their own sticky-note.
Two of the stamps the booths were given to “stamp” participants passports as they visited each demo.