BIOTHERM BLUE BEAUTY LAB

In late 2021, Biotherm and Universal Design Studio reached out to AC3 Studio to work with Superbien to design and deploy an immersive experience at the intersection of science and art. For the “Blue Beauty Lab,” as it came to be known, AC3 layered abstract representations of chemical ingredients to create digital artwork and help audiences understand the complex science at the heart of the Biotherm brand.

Biotherm asked AC3 to set up a permanent digital installation highlighting their new plankton-based product line inside a cutting-edge brand showroom. The AC3 team began the project aiming to create a CAVE environment composed of three video projectors where visitors could interact with a 3D shape through primitive and sensitive gestures.

AC3 used a Kinect Azure sensor to track users’ hands. The creative team used TouchDesigner to manage I/O-like video projectors, bring sequences to life, and sensor input filtering. They also used Ableton Live to trigger and modulate the pitch, gain, and effects of audio clips according to user movements. Using React web technologies, the team developed their UI overlay and linked the entire application with a web server to record user creations.

Within their complex system, AC3 used Notch to model, animate, and render 3D plankton shapes in an underwater environment with raytracing. As the team worked closely with the client, they defined their own interactive grammar to keep the audiovisual communication with user gestures as smooth as possible. With a satisfied client and audience, AC3 will now replicate their crafted experience for retail settings and other events.

Additional press coverage:

Dezeen, Design Week, e-architect.