The Blu: A VR Experience

Details

Blu invited visitors to experience the ocean in a way traditional exhibits couldn’t—by placing them inside it. Using immersive VR, visitors descended from a brilliant coral reef into the darkness of the abyss, interacting with marine life, encountering an 80-foot blue whale, and discovering creatures where sunlight never reaches. The experience introduced NHM visitors to a new form of immersive storytelling.

I led the interdepartmental team that launched Blu, NHM’s first virtual reality experience, in collaboration with WeVR and Flux Design. Working with designers, technologists, and marine scientists, we extended the experience beyond the headset with an adjacent media lounge featuring underwater video and marine specimens.

 

Project Stats

  • Client: Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County

  • Budget: In-kind donation

  • Size: 1500 sq ft

  • Exhibition Design Partner: NHM

  • Completed: 2017

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Words

“Engaging and inspiring visitors is what we do - and “the Blu: An Underwater VR Experience” is beautiful, powerful storytelling. It would not surprise me if the next generation of marine biologists and VR developers are inspired by this exhibit.”
–Lori Bettison-Varga, NHMLA Director and President

 

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