As the project progresses into its second phase, the team held a technical meeting to plan the next steps in the King Athelstan mixed reality soundscape. Contributors from Kingston University, including sound designers, animators, and software developers, came together to coordinate how audio and new subtle animations will support and enhance the immersive mixed reality experience.
Focus on Sound Design and the Project Soundscap
The sound design team now includes Dr. Leah Kardos and George Reid from Kingston School of Art (KSA), who joined the meeting to help define how audio can enhance the project’s interactive storytelling. Rob Plummer, who is already working on the soundscape, was unable to attend in person but remains an active member of the team.
The meeting began at the Visconti Studio, an iconic music production facility at Kingston University. This location offered an opportunity to test the current build of the mixed reality application, which overlays digital content—including a sculpture of King Æthelstan—onto real-world spaces. This was the first hands-on session with the MR app for George, supporting initial discussions on how immersive sound can complement the visual and spatial elements.
Coordination with Animation and Development Teams
The team then moved to a teleconference room. We were joined remotely by the project’s animators, Christel ‘t Hoen and Joana Sousa Dias, who contributed to discussions on how animation and sound will be synchronised within the experience. We also discussed ideas for new subtle animations to enhance the overall atmosphere.
Also present were Alan Birkinshaw (Business Lead) and Matteo Marelli, a new software developer who has joined the project to support technical implementation. The meeting helped clarify roles, timelines, and next steps for integrating audio and animation within the app.
Toward a Cohesive Mixed Reality Soundscape
This meeting marked an important step in aligning the audio, animation, and software strands of the project. Work on the King Athelstan mixed reality soundscape is now underway, with further development scheduled over the coming weeks.
We’ll continue to share updates as the team builds toward a public-facing release that connects historical storytelling with modern immersive tools.
Entire team discussing King Athelstan mixed reality soundscape and other aspects of the project’s phase two