OPA
Ocean Photography Awards with extended reality for Awards Show by MCCGLC

Striking design and slick production took this seamlessly from outdoor exhibition to a successful digital event.

Challenge

Challenge

The original brief for this project was particularly exciting: to curate a month-long exhibition of nominees and winners of the first ever Ocean Photography Awards, to be displayed in an iconic London location.

An area with a huge amount of foot-traffic, it would help Oceanographic Magazine in its mission to raise awareness of ocean conservation through stunning photography and captivating storytelling.

But 2020 changed all that. After months of uncertainty, our new challenge was clear: to create an online platform and digital event that would not only gain the same amount of reach, but to find a way to conduct the awards ceremony online, too.

OPA image by contestant for awards show by MCCGLC

The original brief for this project was particularly exciting: to curate a month-long exhibition of nominees and winners of the first ever Ocean Photography Awards, to be displayed in an iconic London location.

An area with a huge amount of foot-traffic, it would help Oceanographic Magazine in its mission to raise awareness of ocean conservation through stunning photography and captivating storytelling.

But 2020 changed all that. After months of uncertainty, our new challenge was clear: to create an online platform and digital event that would not only gain the same amount of reach, but to find a way to conduct the awards ceremony online, too.

Approach

Approach

Oceanographic’s conservation work is unique. Rather than simply shocking their audience with troubling images, they inspire people to protect the ocean by intertwining these with overwhelmingly beautiful photography.

We wanted to build on this with a digital exhibition that immersed viewers in the images, allowing them to enjoy the visuals but also connect with the story behind it. The online awards ceremony was also a challenge; creating a setup that would give attendees one on one and group networking opportunities similar to those of a real life event.

We supported the event with a social media campaign – the awards are about adventure and exploration, about inspiring everyone to discover and protect the ocean themselves, so we encouraged the public to find their own #oceanstory.

Oceanographic for OPA website design by MCCGLC

Oceanographic’s conservation work is unique. Rather than simply shocking their audience with troubling images, they inspire people to protect the ocean by intertwining these with overwhelmingly beautiful photography.

We wanted to build on this with a digital exhibition that immersed viewers in the images, allowing them to enjoy the visuals but also connect with the story behind it. The online awards ceremony was also a challenge; creating a setup that would give attendees one on one and group networking opportunities similar to those of a real life event.

We supported the event with a social media campaign – the awards are about adventure and exploration, about inspiring everyone to discover and protect the ocean themselves, so we encouraged the public to find their own #oceanstory.

Solution

Solution

As well as a powerful call to action across social media, a dynamic website that expanded Oceanographic’s already eye-catching design language and extensive video materials, we curated and produced an innovative digital awards show.

Extended reality technology helped us to integrate the physical presenter – on an LED stage in London – with winners and nominees dialling in from all over the world, in a complicated mix of pre-recorded material and live segments. With live streaming on social media, we gave access to people who would not have been able to attend the invite-only physical ceremony.

A select group was also given exclusive access to the Ocean Photography Awards on SPACEIN. Here they could network and interact with peers in real time through live Q&A sessions with the judges. Visibility of other attendees encouraged spontaneous f2f networking.

Ocean Photography Awards with programme management and live streaming by MCCGLC

As well as a powerful call to action across social media, a dynamic website that expanded Oceanographic’s already eye-catching design language and extensive video materials, we curated and produced an innovative digital awards show.

Extended reality technology helped us to integrate the physical presenter – on an LED stage in London – with winners and nominees dialling in from all over the world, in a complicated mix of pre-recorded material and live segments. With live streaming on social media, we gave access to people who would not have been able to attend the invite-only physical ceremony.

A select group was also given exclusive access to the Ocean Photography Awards on SPACEIN. Here they could network and interact with peers in real time through live Q&A sessions with the judges. Visibility of other attendees encouraged spontaneous f2f networking.

Impact

Impact
120

guests attended exclusive
SPACEIN gala awards event

2.5k

public Youtube views

Ocean Photography Awards website by MCCGLC
120

guests attended exclusive
SPACEIN gala awards event

2.5k

public Youtube views

33k

number of visitors
to the site

11k

visitors from launch until
OPA event on 19th

Ocean Photography Awards image from Awards Show by MCCGLC OPA with stage design and extended reality by MCCGLC Ocean Photography Awards using live streaming by MCCGLC

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