Apollo Creative provides expertise built-up from over 10 years working in the area of interactive technology. With past projects covering artistic installations, museum interactives, touring exhibitions and sensory rooms, Apollo staff can fulfill a variety of project roles. From providing consultancy services to managing complex projects and designing, installing, commissioning and training.
We're also involved with a number of education initiatives, providing mentoring, student placements and lectures at all levels. This enables us to promote engineering, IT and creative skills to the next generation, as well as providing Apollo with access to new ideas. Projects are currently underway with York, Hull and Huddersfield Universities.
Details of ongoing project and education work can be found on our blog at: http://apollocreative.blogspot.com
Current Projects
Mobile Sensory Unit, KidsOut
An interactive sound and light space that can be erected in a few minutes and be used for a wide range of creative projects.
Another project with KidsOut and one of their Media Vans. This is a scaled down version of the fixed space designed for the Gordon Parry Centre. It provides a range of lighting and sound effects that enables the users to create flexible multisensory spaces for storytelling, play and music based activities. At the core is the Apollo Ensemble, allowing sensors and switches to be linked to sound and light.
Based around two wheeled flightcases, it is transported as part of a Media Bus. The prototype Mobile Units are currently being trialled in the Lake District.
Past Projects
Me, Myself and MRI, Geodesic Arts
Creative Director Mark Hildred is acting as the technical producer for this education project, which will culminate in an interactive portraiture exhibition. Mark will be working as part of Geodesic Arts to deliver workshops to a group of pupils at Archbishop Holgate's School in York, covering a wide range of topics. The school group will then work with artists and the core team to produce the final exhibition.
The Apollo Ensemble and sensors will form the core technology for running the exhibition, which will tour from February 2009. Further information on the Apollo Blog or direct at www.memyselfandmri.org.
PhyzzPod, Portable Sensory Space, KidsOut
A temporary Sensory Room that can be built in a school or other location and left for a period of 2-3 months.
This innovative mobile space is a complete room that can be built in a larger environment, for example part of a school hall, a village hall or a spare classroom. The main structure is very flexible allowing positioning of a range of effects including lighting, sound and sensory equipment. The room includes a bubble tube, fibre optic unit and interactive sound equipment from the Apollo range.
Apollo have designed the system in collaboration with a professional lighting company and KidsOut. The first unit was tested at a school in Reading, with four further units now in operation around the UK. More information on our blog and at KidsOut.
Gordon Parry Centre, Leeds
Development of an interactive light and sound room.
Predominantly intended for music based activities and designed for a wide range of users. Apollo has worked with a specialist lighting company to provide a flexible environment with a variety of lighting effects. The room is controlled by the users, with sensors and switches linked to lighting and music effects. The room can be themed by the use of the Apollo Ensemble system.
Fountaineers, Futurelab (Jan 07- Jul 08)
Providing expertise and consultancy on the design and development of an interactive fountain.
Using previous experience of designing and building interactive fountains, Mark Hildred has been providing a range of support for this project. This has included a number of sesions within the school, from school assemblies through to workshops with each class. Using the Apollo Ensemble, Mark has been able to demonstrate control of fountain jets from sensors long before the installation of the actual fountain on site. This helped enable the children to make decisions about the final form and function of the fountain.
"Thanks for all your input over time - you've really helped children and staff think practically but also imaginatively and we are all very grateful to you." - Head, Luckwell Primary School
The fountain was installed in the school during Easter 2008 and was officially launched in July. More information on this project can be found on our projects blog - Fountaineers Project Blog.
The Fountaineers Project is run by Futurelab.