In August 2021 we welcomed 16 students from Belgium, Poland, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands. With a visit to The Park Playground, lectures from VR-developers, designers, artists and researchers and the opportunity to create their own VR-experience, they experienced a two-week immersion into VR.
Our first edition ran from August 26 till September 6 2019, when we received 20 students coming from Austria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech republic, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Iran, Ireland, Poland and Russia. They were introduced to the immersive world of VR via lectures and workshops and they built their own VR prototype.
See all finished VR-prototypes from the summer schools here.
Reactions from participants
"Very intense course where you can learn a lot about the theory and practice of VR. This course probably saved me years of trial and error."
"It was a great experience and opportunity to meet people interested in the same subject, but also coming from so many different backgrounds. Seeing so many creative and passionate people and being able to have an exchange with them was also very eye-opening."
"The moment that really stood out for me was when for the first time I could actually see the app that we’ve been creating, to actually see it in VR and be able to move around and interact with objects, iy was a magical moment to see your vision come to life."
"Super interesting talks, well organised. Happy to have been part of this!"
"I had a great learning experience and met very talented and interesting people to broaden the network."
Previous guest speakers
Jakob Kudsk Steensen
Jakob Kudsk Steensen is a NYC-based Danish artist working with environmental storytelling through 3d animation, sound and immersive installations. He creates poetic interpretations about overlooked natural phenomena through collaborations with field biologists, composers and writers. Steensens work has been exhibited internationally at venues such as the Venice Biennale, the Serpentine Galleries, MATADERO Madrid among other institutions and festivals. Kudsk Steensen was shortlisted for the Future Generation Art Prize 2019.
Chris Elvis Leisi
Chris Elvis Leisi is working as a research assistant in the Immersive Arts Space at the Zurich University of the Arts. The focus of his research is in co-location multi-user virtual reality experiences. He is the co-founder of ArchLevel GmbH, a game development company. Chris created the multi-user VR game Spacecraft – A New Way Home, which is based on mapped reality and has a strong storytelling backbone.
Laura Olin
Laura Olin is the COO & founder of ZOAN, based in Helsinki. Zoan is a VR studio that creates high-quality virtual reality experiences and real-time 3D Models. Their solutions are based on technological innovations, such as the unique 3D modeling platform for real estate. Others focus on virtual storytelling and creating powerful experiences and simulated realities for marketing, travel, and education. Their projects are internationally recognized and known for their high visual quality. Laura is an alumni of the summer school ‘Storytelling in VR. An immersive encounter.’
Anne-Marleen Olthof
Anne-Marleen Olthof is lecturer Immersive Design XR (VR/AR/MR) in the interdisciplinary minor ‘Virtual/Augmented Reality Atelier’ at the University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam. This program has delivered 35+ virtual, augmented & mixed reality prototypes for a variety of +25 clients. Anne-Marleen is a PhD-candidate on ‘Design for Caring in Human-Computer Integration’ at the Faculty for Digital Media and Creative Industries in Amsterdam. She is visiting professor Virtual Reality at the Fachhochschule Kufstein in Austria.
Ine Vanoeveren
Ine Vanoeveren obtained her DMA at the University of California, San Diego in 2016 and has been conducting artistic research on contemporary performance practice and performance practice methods for several years. Within her artistic research, she focuses on hybrid digital performances in virtual surroundings in co-creation with digital artists. She is a professor in contemporary music at the Royal Conservatory of Liège and at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp. Next to her executive functions, she hosts the artistic research group ‘Creatie’ at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp. She is a welcome guest speaker at various international universities.
Vitalijus Zhukas
Vitalijus Zhukas is a producer of short films, documentary, music video and commercials. In 2010 he founded OKTA Studio, which soon became the region’s leading 3D production studio, working on high-end quality content creation for game, movie and advertising industries.
Pieter Van Leugenhagen
Pieter Van Leugenhagen is the co-founder and Business Lead of Yondr, an immersive award-winning media agency with a focus on virtual reality, video & branding. Yondr launched earlier this year it’s VRTL Academy, an online learning platform about the production of virtual reality video.
Jens Franssen
Jens Franssen is a journalist at VRTNWS. He follows the Middle East, North Africa and Defense. Franssen presented and discussed ‘Syria’s Silence’ and ‘Ryad’s War Oil’, two 360° videos shot on location in war‐torn Syria.
Paolo Favéro
Paolo Silvio Harald Favéro is a visual anthropologist presently Associate Professor in Film Studies and Visual Culture at the University of Antwerp. An important part of his research is about immersive images and the way 360° video, virtual, augmented and mixed reality seek to wrap viewers in the image and to blur the distance between viewer and viewed, self and world.