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Project
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From imagining futures to prototyping them.
StoriesXFuture was created by Overview Collective and Garage Stories as an experimental platform bringing together storytellers, technologists, activists, researchers and policymakers to explore how emerging media could help people engage with climate and social challenges differently.
The initiative began in New York in 2019 as an intensive XR co-creation sprint and later expanded into virtual programming, an ocean-focused media series and a five-week international incubator for impact-driven XR projects.
Over one intensive 20-hour sprint, 60 participants developed 10 prototype experiences, exploring how technologies such as VR, AR and spatial computing could support climate action and more sustainable cities.
From imagining futures to prototyping them.
StoriesXFuture was created by Overview Collective and Garage Stories as an experimental platform bringing together storytellers, technologists, activists, researchers and policymakers to explore how emerging media could help people engage with climate and social challenges differently.
Participants worked across disciplines rather than inside traditional industry silos, with mentors, judges and speakers drawn from organizations including Google, NYCEDC, NYU Tandon, Stanford University, Games for Change, Publicis, Magic Leap, Looking Glass and others.
Bring different disciplines into the same room. Give them a real problem. Build something.
The winning prototype, Edible Apartment, used geolocation, 3D modeling and spatial computing to help city residents visualize hydroponic growing systems inside their own homes.
The team went on to showcase the concept at the House of Solutions on Governors Island and at the NYC Media Lab Annual Summit, where it later received a crowd-voted Demo Expo award.
STORIES X FUTURE
EMERGING MEDIA · CO-CREATION · INNOVATION PROGRAMMING
The first edition
20 hours to imagine a different future.
The first edition took place September 13–14, 2019 at RLab in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Over one intensive 20-hour sprint, 60 participants developed 10 prototype experiences, exploring how technologies such as VR, AR and spatial computing could support climate action and more sustainable cities.
Participants worked across disciplines rather than inside traditional industry silos, with mentors, judges and speakers drawn from organizations including Google, NYCEDC, NYU Tandon, Stanford University, Games for Change, Publicis, Magic Leap, Looking Glass and others.
Bring different disciplines into the same room. Give them a real problem. Build something.
The winning prototype, Edible Apartment, used geolocation, 3D modeling and spatial computing to help city residents visualize hydroponic growing systems inside their own homes.
The team went on to showcase the concept at the House of Solutions on Governors Island and at the NYC Media Lab Annual Summit, where it later received a crowd-voted Demo Expo award.
Second
edition
XR FOR IMPACT
Later in 2020, StoriesXFuture expanded again with the XR for Impact Virtual Incubator, a five-week programme supporting creators developing VR, AR, AI and other emerging-media projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Participants received masterclasses, mentorship and structured support around value proposition, business model, impact strategy, marketing and pitching. Overview contributed strategic campaign design and its impact network, while Garage Stories brought its innovation methodology.
The programme culminated in a live pitching and pledging session where industry mentors could commit expertise, introductions and other support to help selected projects move forward.
Mentors & Speakers included:
Save the Children International
Marshmallow Laser Feast
PHI Centre
Habitat XR
Greater Good Studio
AVORE
and former HTC XR for Impact leadership, alongside Overview and Garage Stories.
Mentors & Speakers included:
Save the Children International
Marshmallow Laser Feast
PHI Centre
Habitat XR
Greater Good Studio
AVORE
and former HTC XR for Impact leadership, alongside Overview and Garage Stories.
Taking the conversation online.
In June 2020, StoriesXFuture evolved into Ocean Innovation, an episodic virtual series created with Peace Boat US and Friends of UN World Oceans Day around the theme Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean.
The series brought scientists and sustainability experts together with artists, activists and technologists to unpack marine challenges and the innovations already changing ocean research and conservation.
Contributors included experts from Project Drawdown, the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, NASA EXPORTS and SpeSeas, alongside creatives and activists from organizations including Peace Boat US and Litterati.
Outcome
Building the conditions for new ideas to emerge.
StoriesXFuture demonstrated that emerging technology was most interesting when it became a tool for collaboration rather than the starting point.
The initiative brought together disciplines that rarely worked side-by-side, created tangible prototypes from complex sustainability challenges and gave selected ideas opportunities to continue beyond the initial programme.
Its evolution from a New York sprint into media programming and an international virtual incubator also became an early proof of Overview's ability to combine creative development, programming, communications, community and emerging technology within one initiative.
Outcome
Project Credits
CREDITS
STORIES X FUTURE
Created by Overview Collective + Garage Stories
OVERVIEW COLLECTIVE
Programme Strategy · Production · Impact Strategy · Communications · Community Development
GARAGE STORIES
Innovation Methodology · Co-Creation · XR Development
NEW YORK EDITION PARTNER
RLab, Brooklyn Navy Yard
STORIES X FUTURE
Created by Overview Collective + Garage Stories
OVERVIEW COLLECTIVE
Programme Strategy · Production · Impact Strategy
· Communications · Community Development
GARAGE STORIES
Innovation Methodology · Co-Creation · XR Development
NEW YORK EDITION PARTNER
RLab, Brooklyn Navy Yard
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