MIKE HIGHLIGHTS // XR Artist & Social VR In-World Designer / Architect Juliana Loh

Republished By Plato

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Juliana Loh is a Creative Producer with solid art, composition and design skills; an instructor with a gift for facilitating and using human centric design principles to solve problems; a storyteller who brings thoughtfulness to social awareness and cultural campaigns; an immersive artist who translates concepts and stories through VR Tiltbrush paintings and an in-world VR designer who has created unique and beautiful metaworlds within social VR. Juliana is an entrepreneur who views all things with a business/problem-solving mindset and a curiosity for understanding and clarifying conceptual processes.

How did you get started in the industry?

I am a creative producer with a background in storytelling, games, education and branded entertainment. I was already on a road to accomplishing my dream of success in the fine art world when everything changed in 2016. After seeing the entire breadth of the Sistine Chapel in VR using the HTCVive, I completely changed my trajectory. I had a vision a long time ago of a world within VR and 360 film that would enable me to design worlds/art/music/sound experiences and mini films in such a way as to enable people to experience themselves and others in spatial form. I knew that VR/AR was in its early days, but having two feet in different worlds was a plan worthy of pursuit. After that, I attended every meetup and social event I could find. In 2019, I bought myself an Oculus 1 and then created a goal for myself to be an immersive artist/designer. Two years later, I accomplished that and more!

What are some of your favorite work pieces that you have created and why?

In the last two years, I’ve created over 40 personal narrative vignettes designed over VR, AR and video formats. I’ve worked as a pre-conceptual designer for a few entertainment/media agencies and showcased in some pretty fun venues featuring the best of what VR art has to offer. The two projects that I am most proud of are: designing an empathy workshop in VR360 film for students and co-creating a beautiful in-world design in AltspaceVR. Jingle Ville was designed during the Xmas season and served as a blueprint for various artists who visited our space. It was uniquely painted in Tiltbrush and marketed as a complete end-to-end UX design process. It included a narrative arch and opportunity for a theatrical treatment which we will introduce hopefully next xmas season. The entire village was created to help people experience the holidays in a time where anxiety and depression during the covid crisis was at its peak here in Vancouver and in some areas globally. Being able to create a place of joy and wonder was a dream come true.

1. How VR could bring transhumanism to the masses

2. How Augmented Reality (AR) is Reshaping the Food Service Industry

3. ExpiCulture — Developing an Original World-Traveling VR Experience

4. Enterprise AR: 7 real-world use cases for 2021

What were some obstacles you overcame your VR artist career and how?

I tried tiltbrush for the first time in 2016 and while I really loved it, I wasn’t able to jump into VR in the way I had anticipated. 2016 was a very challenging year for me as I was presented with several major life-changing obstacles that took both time, sacrifices and huge personal resources to overcome. By 2019, I was ready to follow my dream again but I really had to hustle and literally begged and borrowed my way into VR. Many people were supportive, but unfortunately, I encountered one gentleman in particular who disparaged me at every turn. In fact, it’s a strange thing to say, but his condescension was so memorable that I responded by re-doubling my efforts. Today, I am happy to say that I am a world-class professional virtual reality artist. All it took was a little talent, a lot of hard work, a smattering of confidence and a super thick skin. One of my goals is to help people like me (diversity and inclusion) to enter the market and to one day take a ‘seat at the table’. Karma is a wonderful thing!

What does your work aim to say?

My artwork is steeped in storytelling, representation and imagination. It explores the human condition and encourages people to relate to each other through the Tiltbrush models I paint and the music that I integrate. My goal is to help move people out of their comfort zones, open themselves up to new ways of receiving and experiencing narrative-styled immersion and to celebrate subject matters pertaining to diversity, history and inclusion. I’ve been enjoying the process of creating livable, breathable characters representing everyday life. Bringing joy, entertainment and amusement to people around the world has been crucial to supporting mental health initiatives especially during this long and difficult covid year. Through imagination, storytelling and observation, my artwork documents characters and environments that invoke play, curiosity and a sense of wonder.