Creative Guide: Create a 3D world in AR with WWWesh Studio

Before we dive into anything technical, it’s important to first solidify the concept for your immersive and interactive exhibition. Your brief here is to picture a future where nature and technology have evolved in symbiosis, so start to imagine what you think that future will look like, and what kind of atmosphere you want to create within your “scene”. It’s up to you how you begin to get your thoughts down here – you can use the Notes app to jot down some thoughts or sketch some basic ideas, or work with pen and paper.

If you’re completing this Guide on iPad, you can use Split View to scroll through the article while completing each stage in another programme, at the same time.

WWWesh Studio: Due to the current situation, most cultural institutions and museums are closed and we are working more and more on virtual exhibition and experiential projects. So we thought it would be interesting to explore the possibilities of Reality Composer in this sense.

You are the curator and scenographer of your New World Exhibition so first start to define the subject. When we think about the New World, we imagine a lot of progress in different fields. We know about scientific innovations and new technologies. Still, one area that remains in development is the combination of science and technology in connection, like an augmented nature. It is a field that is intriguing and disturbing but also inspiring. Seeing the natural world and digital innovation live together is refreshing because it opens up new evolutionary perspectives. It feeds our imagination... Our environment’s general atmosphere is going to be reassuring – a sense of wonder, a surreal discovery, as if we were in a science fiction film.

Now that you have an idea of what kind of scene you want to create, it’s helpful to gather visual references which convey the atmosphere you have in mind. Look at films, photography, books, anything you can get your hands on, as these will prove invaluable later on in the process. Aim to gather at least five to ten images here.

WS: After defining an angle, we first came up with references from our own imagination. We are unconsciously nourished by a cultural background of books, films, and the latest scientific and technological progress. Then we pushed our research into a quest for images to expand the aesthetic possibilities. Image research is an essential part of our process because it allows us to frame our thinking and visualise an idea.

Continuing the process of creating the parameters within which you will later create, it’s time to choose a title for your exhibition. Aim for something memorable and snappy, and which clearly conveys your intentions. Start by pooling keywords or look to your research for inspiration. The title you choose will set the tone for everything you create later on so spend some time making sure its right. For their exhibition, Pierrick and Antoine have chosen the title, Utopian Symbiosis.

WS: This title comes from our intention for this exhibition. “Utopian” is an ideal, a world where nature and technology are not placed as two distinct and opposed entities but as two which depend on each other. “Symbiosis” is there to emphasise the importance of nature and technology evolving together. The title also helps visually. This utopia is our ideal representation of nature and technology, so we can be really playful in our choice of flowers, colours, etc.

With your array of assets decided upon, you can begin creating your AR experience. First, open Reality Composer on iPhone or iPad and tap Create Document before importing your assets into the app. You can then have a go at moving, scaling, rotating and deleting objects. Follow the instructions outlined in the video below to do so.

This is one of the most creative parts of the process. With all of your 3D assets in Reality Composer, and with the knowledge of how you move, scale, rotate and remove objects, you can start to arrange and compose your scene to tell a story. Think about what you want “visitors” to encounter first and how will they move around your exhibition. Try playing around with different layouts and see how that affects the tone of the scene, keeping in mind the atmosphere you want to create.

WS: We chose to arrange our elements randomly, in order to create a feeling of immersion in a space where nature has regained its rights. To create our general atmosphere, we first imported the objects which will be stationary, then the objects that will be in motion. We also integrated objects according to their position in the space. First, the low objects (on the ground, like grass, stones), then the flying objects to give height (like plants or antennas) which link the ground and the sky.

Our environment’s general atmosphere is meant to be reassuring. We wanted there to be space between our elements so that the spectator can discover the scene while moving around inside it. We, therefore, arranged the objects in such a way as to not overload the scene.

An essential element, which is not material, is the presence of sound. We attributed a general ambient sound to the monolith and more punctual noises to particular objects, always to create dynamism and bring a sense of wonder. (More information on how to do this in Step 08.)

One of the most exciting aspects of AR, is the interactive experience it creates. But you need to export your exhibition before anyone can “visit” it. Pierrick and Antoine outline how you can do this, below.

We’d love to see your New World Exhibition, so make sure you share what you’ve created on social media for a chance to be featured on It’s Nice That. Include the title of your exhibition, use the hashtags #CreativeNewWorld and #TodayAtApple, and tag @wwwesh.studio.