Waxeye shoots for Dubai

AUCKLAND, Monday: NZ Trade & Enterprise has launched – with support from NZ-based digital studio Waxeye – a digital version of its pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai, aimed at global audiences.

Waxeye developed the immersive experience based on the physical building which is located at Expo 2020 Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. 

The virtual pavilion translates the physical experience into a unique online one. Without any waiting time, and no matter their location, visitors can choose to follow the intuitive route through the rooms as if they were walking through the pavilion in Dubai, or adapt their online path by accessing the menu.

NZ commissioner-general said: “We are thrilled to be sharing Aotearoa New Zealand’s story for Expo 2020 Dubai with an even greater international audience and we hope that many exporters can use the virtual pavilion as an introduction to New Zealand, wherever they are doing business.”

“In addition to our story of a nation that innovates, the virtual pavilion showcases the world-class capability of NZ’s tech sector.”

“Visitors can engage as much as they like, click to find out more, or simply observe. By putting the journey in the hands of the visitor, their part in the bigger picture, their role as kaitiaki or guardian of nature is reinforced.

“In addition to our story of a nation that innovates, the virtual pavilion showcases the world-class capability of New Zealand’s tech sector.”

Waxeye managing partner Tony Leslie said: “The physical pavilion in Dubai wows visitors with immersive, multi-sensory and interactive content. So we wanted to mirror this experience in the digital environment as much as possible. Using webGL we developed a 3D pipeline to optimise and test performance for browsers throughout production to ensure a great online experience for the global audience.”

Visitors to the virtual experience can also share their experience on social media, by taking a picture of themselves in front of the virtual pavilion using an augmented reality add-on within the app.

• Learn more about the project here