The Vatican Immersive – A Deep Dive

Bringing the Vatican to Life on the International Stage | IN5

The Brief

Our journey with IN5 began when they approached us with an ambitious vision: to bring the Vatican to Los Angeles. Traveling to the Vatican, with all its historical and geographical constraints, is not always feasible for everyone. IN5, a company known for curating immersive experiences, aimed to bridge this gap by creating an extraordinary experience that would allow audiences to appreciate the art, architecture, and culture of the Vatican without leaving California. The challenge was clear: we needed to create an immersive experience that was not only creative and innovative but also 'larger than life.'

An Ode to Virtual, Global Collaboration

The success of the immersive Vatican experience project is not just a testament to our design prowess, but also a celebration of the power of modern, global collaboration. Throughout this venture, we had the privilege of working with four different teams, each located in a distinct corner of the world. Our virtual assets and experience-design team from Ukraine, the IN5 experiences team in Bangalore, the content-development team in Rome, and the events team in the United States seamlessly joined forces to make this vision a reality. Despite the geographical distances, time zones, and cultural variations, the collective dedication and expertise of these teams ensured a harmonious execution. We communicated, collaborated, and created together as if we were all under one roof, underscoring the limitless potential of modern collaborative working.

This project highlights the transformational shift in the way we work, where international borders are no longer barriers, and the world truly becomes a global village. It has reinforced the idea that with the right team, communication tools, and shared passion, we can achieve extraordinary results, even from different corners of the world. The immersive Vatican experience stands as a testament to the limitless possibilities of collaboration in our digital age, setting a precedent for future innovative projects that bring the world's wonders to everyone, everywhere.

Visual Identity and Visual Language

To capture the historical essence of the Vatican, our team developed a visual identity and language that merged the ancient with the modern. We used a rich colour palette of maroon, sepia, brown, chocolate, beige to add a sense of 'historicity' to the space. Engraved imagery, rock cut/wood cut, and linocuts were blended with modern Technicolor to showcase the transition from ancient to modernity. Achieving this unique visual style was a challenge, but with the expertise of our Ukrainian partners and an extensive Photoshop process, we were able to render every image through this historical filter.

Our design also featured a frame treatment that highlighted the current piece of art and key information in a subtle, non-invasive way. This approach was particularly evident in the historical timeline and the segmentation of different sections.

Space Design & Wayfinding Systems

The space design was a critical aspect of creating an immersive Vatican experience. The space had to smoothly cater to 250 individuals at any given time as they navigated their way through five different zones: the Foyer, the Ante Room, the Media Room, the Fun Activity area and the VR experience room. Each zone forms an irreplaceable facet of the complete experience. Naturally, we also had to plan for support spaces that would help power the space, from the AHU room to a store room and a server room. The ED team devised an ergonomic, streamlined layout that would allow for a complete, comprehensive and comfortably paced experience for visitors.

From there, visitors entered the Anteroom, strategically designed to guide people through the different parts of the experience. Here, visitors encountered welcome panels, information about Vatican City, a historical timeline, and 3D inserts of iconic art objects. Proper background and surface lighting were crucial for legibility.

The journey continued into the media room, equipped with 6 ceiling projectors, seating for seniors, and a 360-degree immersion experience. From there, visitors moved to the Fun Activity Area, which featured interaction elements, a photo op area, a VR experience room, and even a kids' painting area. We also created signages for the building's exterior to draw attention to the venue, making it easily recognizable.

The Foyer

We transformed Ace Mission Studios with draped partitions and a grand entrance. Visitors walked up a ramp, passed outdoor banners providing relevant communication in the form of "Discover," "Immerse," and "Experience" panels, which prepared them for the journey ahead.

The foyer area was divided into sections that included a reception table, a large visual of the School of Athens, seating, and information posters to set expectations. We also provided essential amenities like wheelchairs and a cloakroom.

Anteroom Written Content & Collateral

The anteroom introduces visitors to the art, architecture and splendour of the Vatican in an informative, touchpoint-focused format. Visitors warm up and get acquainted with the Vatican’s zonal layout, key artworks, people and architectural monuments before they enter the fully immersive experience that is the media room. This connects numerous visual references in the grand spectacle to key information, adding necessary context for the video. The team worked on designing around 40 panels, crunching an enormous amount of information into accessible, bite sized, easy to comprehend pieces.

To make the experience accessible to a broader audience, we developed written content in English, and provided room for an added Spanish translation. Iconic paintings and a map of the city provided context and orientation for visitors, ensuring they had a comprehensive understanding of the Vatican's art and history. We also embedded screens to offer detailed information to those interested in an in-depth understanding, creating a sensorial-yet-educational experience.

Media Room Video Scripting and Ideation

We took charge of scripting the storyline, selecting music, and designing the sequence of events for the media room. Our team collaborated with Ukraine-based animation experts to take the experience to the next level. This involved us understanding the Vatican on a molecular level to extract the most meaningful, and powerful stories while keeping the narrative flowing seamlessly from one event to the next. We also provided direction and commentary during the implementation stage, ensuring that the narrative came to life seamlessly.

VR/AR Experience and The Fun Activities Zone

Our involvement extended to the VR/AR experience curation that included a selfie booth, kid's area, and other interactive options. We also helped design the Fun Activity Area teeming with interaction screens, a photo-op zone, a painting area for kids and a souvenir shop. These zones add depth and engagement to the overall experience, where visitors could take the edge off, reflect on what they’d witnessed and engage with the space in a fun way that involved the whole family. It also marks a meaningful end to this gargantuan, experiential journey which firmly remains embedded in the visitor’s mind as they make a subconscious decision to bring home a memento or perhaps, get yet others to experience what they did!

In conclusion, the journey to bring the Vatican to Los Angeles was a remarkable one, marked by creative challenges and collaborative efforts. Our team at Elephant Design is proud to have played a significant role in crafting a unique, immersive, and educational experience that allows visitors to explore the Vatican's art, architecture, and culture right in the heart of California. We thank IN5 for entrusting us with this grand project, and we look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of design and creativity in future endeavours.