Studio Hangloose - Creative Agency Rome

the idea

A big appeal of Australia as a destination within the European market is its wide ranging landscapes and infinite horizons. Less appealing is the time needed to fly there! However onboard Qatar Airways’ state-of-the-art aircraft combined with its award winning service the long journey becomes a pleasure.

This was the message we wanted to convey and set about creating a one-of-kind immersive experience using the latest technologies in virtual reality. The idea is simple: Italy to Australia in an instant, onboard an aircraft so advanced that you feel as if your floating above the clouds, all while showcasing the best of the iconic landscapes the destination has to offer.

the execution

First we storyboarded the journey our intrepid traveller would undertake. We then created 3D rendered models of the various locations and developed a virtual flight utilizing the Unity platform. This "flight" could then be experienced in 360 degrees via an Oculus Rift headset.

The "flight" starts with takeoff from an airport runway at sunrise and disappears into the clouds before re-emerging over Australia. We then take in the sites of Dales Gorges, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Pinnacles of Namburg before arriving at sunset on the Great Barrier Reef and concluding with a night time flight over the waters of Sydney Harbour and it's world renowned Opera House.

In a section of the departures terminal in Venice Marco Polo International Airport a stand was set up and staffed by a hostess who invited passengers to enjoy the experience of a journey to the "land down under". During the "journey", an application records exactly what the user sees and creates a mashup of the 3D experience and photos taken by the hostess of their facial reactions. After "landing" the passenger can share her personal video on social media.