Immersive Design Open House

Jul 24, 2018

1 min read

Immersive Design Open House

Last week I got to host an Immersive Design Open House in the Watson Experience Center welcoming over 75 IBMers from across the tri-state area.

The IBM Watson Experience Centers are permanently branded experiences, with locations in New York City, San Francisco, and Cambridge. The centers are invitation only and their primary audience is potential customers of IBM Watson. The collaborative meeting space also serves as educational centers for researchers, students, and media.

We partnered with our external technology and creative partners —
Oblong Technologies and Local Projects to demonstrate how we create the spatial AI experiences we feature as part of client visits.

A three-panel collage from the open house: a presenter guiding visitors through the immersive room with aerial city imagery projected across the 290-degree walls, a conference room session with attendees viewing a "Team Challenges" presentation about timelines, geographic distribution, and at-scale work, and a speaker addressing a smaller group in the center's common area with sunflowers on the table.

We led visitors on walkthroughs of two immersion room modules, spoke about the creative process our team follows to create the experiences, and our strategic roadmap of how we identify the next modules we create. The walkthrough was followed by an intimate reception and a panel with attendees to allow visitors to get a better understanding how the centers work.

wo photos from the Immersive Design Open House reception: a wide shot of 75+ IBM attendees mingling and networking in the Watson Experience Center lobby, and a closer shot of team members in conversation near the refreshments — capturing the energy of opening the space to co-workers from across the tri-state area.

The panel was hosted by Hugh Kohl, an Engagement Leader in the centers and featured: Christina Latina of Local Projects, Pete Hawkes of Oblong Technologies, Jenny Woo of IBM Watson, Fred Benson of IBM Watson and myself.

Six panelists seated on high stools in front of the Watson Experience Center's immersive wall displaying blue generative visuals. From left to right: Fred Benson, Pete Hawkes from Oblong Technologies, Christina Latina from Local Projects, Rob Harrigan, Jenny Woo from IBM Watson, and Hugh Kohl — discussing how the team creates spatial AI experiences for client visits.

From L to R — Fred Benson, Pete Hawkes, Christina Latina, Rob Harrigan, Jenny Woo, Hugh Kohl

We’ve recorded the panel for those who could not attend and documented the entire event.

An abstract blue graphic featuring floating circles of varying sizes and shades alongside a wireframe outline of a cylindrical immersive room structure — representing the 290-degree Watson Experience Center space in a generative, data-inspired visual style.

Thanks to everyone who attended and all the awesome panelists.

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This private publication is not affiliated with my employers or professional associations. Personal blog, personal opinions. Not speaking for anyone but myself. ✌️

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A blue abstract design featuring a circular structure on the left with transparent walls, surrounded by variously sized and shaded blue and white bubbles, representing a modern, creative Rob Harrigan design style.

Immersive Design Open House

Immersive Design Open House

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