WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.
WHO WE ARE
Slow Studies is an Indigenous-led creative agency bringing public spaces to life through immersive digital art, activations, and exhibitions.
We collaborate with and represent Indigenous artists who fuse tradition with technology, alongside visionary creatives and storytellers from across Turtle Island.
Driven by a passion for cultural storytelling and innovation, we amplify IBPOC voices, champion Indigenous Futurism, and craft powerful interactive experiences that inspire, educate, and connect.
WHAT WE DO
We partner with organizations and communities to create immersive experiences that connect the physical and digital worlds through Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR). Our work promotes digital inclusivity and equity while fostering meaningful engagement, education, and collaboration. By amplifying land-based stories, histories, and traditions, we strive to create interactive spaces that honor Indigenous knowledge and invite all audiences to connect, learn, and participate.
WHY WE DO IT
storytelling is central to cultural preservation, identity, and resilience. By engaging communities and organizations, we aim to elevate IBPOC voices and ensure Indigenous perspectives are not only included but celebrated in the evolution of technology and digital spaces. Our work is driven by a commitment to Indigenous Futurism—reshaping narratives, reclaiming space, and fostering a future where cultural knowledge thrives alongside innovation.
Through purposeful immersive digital placemaking, we integrate Indigenous ways of knowing into cutting-edge creative technologies, creating experiences that are meaningful, educational, and accessible to all.
OUR WORK
OUR WORK
Photography courtesy of Fiona Samson
LE MAGASIN ALLEY AR GALLERY
August 2024-Ongoing, Vancouver BC, Canada
Slow Studies / Gastown / VMF
AR Collaboration
AR Gallery Curation
In collaboration with the Vancouver Mural Festival, Slow Studies has launched an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) experience in partnership with the Gastown Business Improvement Association. This ongoing AR Gallery highlights the distinctive Le Magasin alley within the Gastown district.
We invite you to explore this exceptional experience today, showcasing the vibrant works co-created with acclaimed Indigenous artists: Tsleil-Waututh artist and graphic designer Olivia George, Musqueam artist Diamond Point, and Sto:lo/Nlaka'pamux artist and graphic designer, Ovila Mailhot. Their artistic visions have been transformed into an immersive AR gallery that celebrates and enriches the Alley through shared Indigenous narratives and creative expressions.
This activation underscores the importance of collective storytelling, the cultural significance of the land we walk upon, visit, and live on, and encourages community engagement with our local Indigenous culture, history, and memory within a cutting-edge digital framework. Experience firsthand how art can transcend the boundaries between the physical and digital, creating spaces for cultural reflection, education, along with fostering connections within the community.
The Le Magasin AR Gallery has been featured in numerous articles, such as Daily Hive, the Georgia Straight and BC Business Magazine and was also publicly toured with Vancouver DeTours.
Hoy Chexw to all the sponsors, magazines, organizations, and visitors for your continued support of this project, we look forward to this continued collaboration.
WOOLLY DOG
For Debra Sparrow Showcase @ Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week
November 2024, Vancouver BC, Canada
Slow Studies / Debra Sparrow
AR Collaboration
On a stringent deadline, Musqueam Weaver and Knowledge Keeper, Debra Sparrow, reached out to us to re-create a 3D animation of a woolly dog for the stage. Debra and her daughter, Aleen Sparrow, were set to take center stage at the 2024 Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week showcase and hoped to bring the Woolly Dog with them by running a looping animation of the Woolly Dog on the big screens wearing one of Debra’s woven patterns.
As always, it was a great honour to work with Debra to bring her vision to life.
Stay tuned to see where her Woolly Dog winds up next!
Photo Courtesy of The Wilder
IS IT REAL?
SQUAMISH’S FIRST AR ART EXHIBITION W/ THE WILDER EXPERIENCE
August-September 2024, Squamish BC, Canada
Slow Studies / The Wilder
Sponsor: Squamish Arts Grant
AR Curation Collaboration / AR Integration
ARTISTS:
Steffi Lai / Ovila Mailhot / Olivia George / Jay Lyonns / Josh Conrad / Aaron Kaufman
For two years, the idea of an immersive digital art experience in Squamish was just a vision. In partnership with the visionary of this pop up, The Wilder, and the unwavering support of the Squamish Arts Grant Program, that vision became reality with Is This Real?—the first augmented reality (AR) art exhibition in Squamish, which was activated just in time and held at The annual Squamish Arts Festival!
Slow Studies worked alongside The Wilder to curate this pop-up exhibition, featuring six incredible digital artists:
Steffi Lai - “Little Ghosts”
Jay Lyonns - “Murder of Crows” and “Orca Ancestors”
Aaron Kaufman - “Bagfly”
Ovila Mailhot - “Water Whorl”
Olivia George - “Blessings and Prayer”
Josh Conrad - “ Water || Life” and “SKYTHINGS”
Visitors could scan QR codes placed throughout Junction Park and later at August Jack Food Truck Plaza, unlocking an interactive digital layer through Instagram stories. This experience transformed public spaces into an evolving, augmented environment filled with movement, symbolism, and surreal digital elements.
As a studio committed to equitable and accessible digital placemaking, Slow Studies Creative collaborated with a few of these artists to help integrate their work into AR, ensuring a seamless, accessible, and immersive mobile experience.
This project highlights the potential of AR in public art, making digital storytelling more interactive and engaging for the community.
ALEX FOWKES “WELCOME TO SQUAMISH” AR MURAL @ DOWNTOWN SQUAMISH
August 2024, Squamish BC, Canada
Slow Studies / Alex Fowkes / The Wilder / Squamish Arts Council
AR Collaboration
Slow Studies Creative partnered with The Wilder and Squamish Arts Council to collaborate on and an AR experience that extends and animates the Landmark “Welcome to Squamish” Mural painted by artist and graphic designer Alex Fowkes. This is an ongoing activation and can be viewed today in downtown Squamish!
If you are in the area, check it out!
CAROLYN WONG AR MURAL FOR TAM KUNG TEMPLE
February 2024, Victoria BC, Canada
Slow Studies / Carolyn Wong / City of Victoria / OURDTWN / Tam Kung Temple
AR Collaboration
Carolyn Wong, also known as seeroro, brought her captivating artwork at the Tam Kung Temple to life through AR technology, with our help we were able to deliver collaboratively the essence of the mural and the temple to life in a meaninful way.
This interactive experience offered festival attendees am immersive encounter with Carolyn's artistic vision, igniting imaginations and sparking conversations.
MARLENE YUEN “JOURNEYS TO HERE” AR MURAL @ CHINESE CANADIAN MUSEUM
June 2024, Vancouver BC, Canada
Slow Studies / Marlene Yuen / Chinese Canadian Museum / Meta
AR Collaboration
It was an honor to collaborate with the incredible team at the Chinese Canadian Museum and Meta to create an interactive and educational AR experience for the beautiful and massive wall mural that was on display in the museum in 2023 and 2024 by @marleneyuen
Despite a tight deadline, we managed to develop a fun and engaging experience for visitors at the museum, which was also showcased at the museum’s 1st birthday celebration.
The AR activation was designed to scan over the mural, and deliver stories of significant people, places, moments and things that were illustrated in the collage by Marlene.
All Photos Courtesy of Fiona Samson
VANCOUVER MURAL FESTIVAL:
BLANKETING THE CITY
February 2024, Victoria BC, Canada
Slow Studies / Debra Sparrow / VMF
AR Collaboration
In February 2024, we initiated a significant partnership with the Vancouver Mural Festival to honor the profound story, skills, and expertise of Musqueam weaver and artist, Debra Sparrow, through her ongoing project, "Blanketing the City Lighting the Way,” offered a unique context for this collaboration.
Working alongside Debra to actualize her vision using state-of-the-art Augmented Reality technology was a genuine privilege. This innovative approach enabled us to present her Musqueam Runner installation across seven prominent sites throughout the city. The Musqueam Runner AR experience offered users the opportunity to engage with Sparrow’s artwork in a transformative way. By simply interacting with their mobile devices, users could control the movement of the Musqueam runner and the threads trailing behind, seamlessly integrating the artwork into the real-world environment. The Runners threads changed color and appearance based on the Mural work color palette and theme at each location.
This immersive experience not only showcased Debra's extraordinary mural creations but also encourages participants to connect with Indigenous art and culture in a novel and accessible manner.
Below is a quick “The Making Of” video on our Instagram account, feel free to check it out!
VANCOUVER MURAL FESTIVAL: WINTER ARTS FESTIVAL
February 2024, Victoria BC, Canada
Slow Studies / VMF / Flux Media Gallery
Indigenous AR Curation: Spark Indigenous
Artists:
Emma Hassencahl-Perley / Ovila Mailhot /
Charlene Johnny / Mel BeaulieuFlux Gallery: Revealing Presence AR Collaborations
Kemi Craig / Lindsay Delaronde / France Trepanier
VMF Public Art AR Collaboration
The VMF Winter Arts Festival, held in 2024 on the unceded lands of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples in Victoria, BC, showcased creativity and innovation, blending art and technology to engage attendees. Despite the winter chill, visitors enjoyed a variety of exciting AR experiences, each bringing something special to the event.
Flux Media Gallery's exhibition, Revealing Presence, transformed from offline to online AR experiences with the Vancouver Mural Festival and Slow Studies.
This collaboration highlighted the stories of peoples and events that shape our connection to the land and each other. Artists Kemi Craig, Lindsay Delaronde, Colton Hash, Eli Hirtle, and France Trepanier created works at specific sites, uncovering hidden narratives. Slow Studies collaborated with Kemi Craig, Lindsay Delaronde, and France Trepanier to share these AR creations.
Local artist Caitlin McDonagh's Winter Arts Festival Moon featured AR animation, captivating attendees who triggered the experience on their phones. The moon lit up walls and was showcased on special Winter Arts Festival cans by Phillips Brewing.
Each activation at the VMF Winter Arts Festival was a unique spectacle, buzzing with energy. These innovations demonstrated the festival's commitment to creative boundaries, offering attendees unforgettable experiences that lasted beyond the event.
As we reflect on the exhilarating festivities, we are inspired by the boundless potential of art and technology to captivate, connect, and inspire.
SPARK INDIGENOUS
In Order of Appearance: Charlene Johnny / Ovila Mailhot / Mel Beaulieu / Emma Hassencahl-Perlay
Images courtesy of Fiona Samson and Quinn Dawson
Videos Of Caitlin McDonagh’s AR experience, and the Flux Media Gallery Exhibition Collaborations are coming soon!
We are currently editing a new recap video of this Activation, however please feel free to check out our reel on Instagram of this immersive experience!
Check back soon for our updated recap!
IMMERSIVE PERSPECTIVES
September 2023, Robson Square,
Vancouver BC, CanadaSlow Studies / DTVAN
AR Gallery for National Day For Truth and Reconciliation
Artists:
Chase Grey/Mel Beaulieu/ Amanda Amour-Lynx / Ovila Mailhot / Nalakwsis / Charlene Johnny / Joshua Conrad / Emma Hassencahl-Perley
Immersive Perspectives was a significant project for Slow Studies Creative.
Our objective was to present the work and learnings of the inaugural cohort of the Spark Indigenous Augmented Reality Fundamentals program from 2023 to the public, marking our first public place-making initiative.
This project featured a shareable immersive Augmented Reality art walk at Robson Square in the core of downtown Vancouver. The location enabled participants to engage with and immerse themselves in the diverse Indigenous cultures, narratives, and creative practices from across the country using their phones on Instagram. Attendees had the opportunity to share these experiences through posts and stories, thereby amplifying the voices of the artists and extending the reach of their artwork.
The art walk from September 25th to October 9th. The journey to this event was filled with numerous lessons and opportunities for growth, particularly regarding the logistical challenges of bringing these experiences to life in public spaces. This marked our first significant engagement in this field, and we are deeply appreciative of the insights gained from our collaboration with the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association and the City of Vancouver.
We extend our sincere gratitude to them for guiding us through this intricate adventure in place-making.
Additionally, we would like to express our appreciation to Meta for their belief in our vision and for their generous sponsorship, assisting us, and helping us reach out and engage with the world of creative technology collaboratively.
SPARK INDIGENOUS
2022-2024, Online
Slow Studies / Meta
Indigenous Accelerator workshop program
Design / Production / Direction / Curation
Slow Studies Creative partnered with Meta to launch Spark Indigenous: Augmented Reality Creator Accelerator, an innovative five-week incubator program we designed specifically to provide Indigenous creators from across Turtle Island with tailored, hands-on training.
This program aimed to empower creators to effectively integrate interactive augmented reality (AR) experiences into their work as a powerful tool for cultural storytelling. Throughout the duration of the program, participants learned how to navigate and utilize Meta Spark Studio, a comprehensive and free AR design toolkit, enabling them to build engaging and immersive experiences that are deeply rooted in their unique cultural narratives. their art practice.
The outcome of the project was a remarkable success, which subsequently led us to embark on an extensive tour showcasing the final works, both independently and in collaboration with Meta.
CHROMATIC CONNECTOR
SUMMER 2021
3D Rendering / Production / Assistant Design
Team:
Tierney Milne: Team lead Design and Direction
Joshua Conrad: Technical Design and 3D rendering
Dylan Hamm: Fabrication and Technical Design
I had the distinct privilege and honor of contributing to Vancouver artist Tierney Milne’s visionary project, “Chromatic Connector,” an exuberant and vibrant pop-up seating installation thoughtfully designed for two prime locations situated within the bustling downtown Vancouver core.
Through a remarkable collaboration characterized by our unwavering dedication and creative synergy, we not only invigorated the urban landscape but also fostered a genuine sense of community engagement during the warm summer months.
The results were deeply gratifying and truly inspiring, as we collectively transformed our cityscape into a lively and inviting space that resonated with joy, artistic expression, and a spirit of togetherness.
SAD MAG
2020 | 2021
3D Illustration | Editorial
I have collaborated with SAD Mag a couple of times over the last few years, and it always has been a great experience. Here are the two illustrations submitted.
ISSUE NO. 27: NOSTALGIA
Deliverables:
“In Defense of Ugly Vancouver”
Editorial Full Page 3D illustration
Social Media GIF
ISSUE NO 31: LOST
Deliverables:
“Lost”
Back cover 3D illustration
Creative Typography
36 DAYS OF TYPE
See the full series on Instagram
#36daysoftype is a project that invites illustrators and designers to express their interpretation of the letters and number of the alphabet.
The challenge of this project is to generate a letter each day for the duration of the project.
Here is a small sample of the letters I generated for the challenge. To see the full set, feel free to visit my Instagram below.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
Check us out on Instagram to keep up to date on Artist Calls, Events, and Activations!
