"Faced with the millennium's challenges, the oldest continent on the planet is summoning up its ancestral mythologies to apprehend digital worlds."
The AFRIVRSE is an immersive virtual environment showcasing Africa's rich cultural heritage and technological innovation. its an event-based project that questions the challenges of the digital world on the African continent, and the opportunities it offers for the cultural sector. It aims to show that technological innovations can be developed from the African continent, that they can support a fair and sustainable economic system for culture, and that they can be put at the service of development, even in rural areas.
This project aims to contribute to international advocacy on the opportunities of the digital world by providing proof through action by players on the African continent. It also aims to question the capacity of these new digital tools to preserve and represent intangible cultural heritage, while respecting its specificities and the communities that carry it and continue to recreate it.
As the Art Director, I led the creative vision, blending traditional African architectural elements with cutting-edge 3D design to create captivating, interactive virtual spaces. My role involved overseeing the artistic direction, ensuring each scene authentically represented Africa's diverse cultures while providing an engaging and educational experience for users worldwide. This project aims to bridge cultural connections, boost tourism, and highlight Africa's creative potential on a global stage.
LOBBY - CONCEPT DESIGN
The Lobby greets visitors with grand, soaring volumes drawn from pan-African ceremonial halls, anchored by a central stage and sleek branded booths. Rich earthen tones and geometric patterns animate the tall virtual walls, while strategically placed light wells mimic equatorial sunlight. Integrated advertisement panels and ambient tech elements seamlessly blend cultural heritage with futuristic refinement, inviting users into Afrovrse’s narrative world.
retail area - concept design
Drawing on the vibrancy of African marketplaces, the Retail Area features fluid display modules that echo woven textiles’ rhythmic patterns. Dramatic spotlighting and polished virtual materials give each product a sculptural presence. As Art Director, I balanced vernacular color palettes with sleek, minimal lines to convey both heritage and contemporary elegance.
AUDITORIUM - CONCEPT DESIGN
The Auditorium is an immersive amphitheater: semicircular seating fosters community, while acoustic panels take cues from hand-woven mats. A floating, organic stage platform and adjustable LED cove lighting allow mood shifts (quiet focus, celebratory crescendo) echoing traditional storytelling gatherings in a high-tech guise.
EXHIBITION HALL - CONCEPT DESIGN
In the Exhibition Hall, I reinterpreted African gallery traditions through expansive bays and mobile “floating” display walls. A neutral backdrop punctuated with terracotta and ochre accents ensures artwork stands centerstage. This minimal yet warm environment encourages contemplative exploration and honors each piece’s cultural roots.
Breakout room - concept design
Small-group pockets of circular seating, woven-texture screens, and soft, diffuse lighting create intimate “conversation circles.” Inspired by village gathering spots, these rooms foster spontaneous dialogue. My direction focused on a cozy scale and tactile virtual touches that put participants at ease.
Networking LOUNGE - concept design
For the Networking Lounge, I composed lush clusters of low loungers and sculptural pendants that resemble river stones. Deep terracotta and mahogany hues reference African earthen architecture, while integrated audio nodes and ambient soundscapes sustain an atmosphere of relaxed connection.
media plaza - concept design
Envisioned as an Afro-futurist metaverse convention venue, the Media Plaza serves as the central agora for live broadcasts, brand activations, and communal gatherings. Holographic displays float above broad circulation paths, while large integrated screens and digital billboards showcase advertisements, branding content, and CGI-enhanced storytelling. The minimalist hall, rooted in traditional African architectural motifs and enriched with pockets of lush vegetation, blends nature and technology seamlessly. Under my direction, tribal-inspired patterns subtly grace the virtual paving, creating a space that feels both futuristic and culturally grounded, where hundreds of avatars converge to experience cutting-edge exhibitions and digital advertisement in a vibrant 3D environment.
interconnected plaza system - concept design
This network of open plazas is linked by gently curving corridors and elevated walkways, channeling the organic layouts of traditional African settlements. I mapped sightlines and vantage points so that each transition reveals a new cultural vignette, encouraging discovery within a cohesive spatial tapestry.
virtual fair venues - concept design
Reflecting the festive energy of open-air fairs, these expansive halls feature tensile-membrane canopies and modular stages. Bold color swaths and dynamic lighting rigs reference celebratory fabrics and rhythms, while the flexible layout supports simultaneous showcases and communal gatherings.
virtual booth - concept design
Each Virtual Booth is a sculptural micro-architecture: crisp volumes, backlit panels, and clear branding zones. I defined a toolkit of customizable elements—arches, fretwork screens, podiums—that exhibitors can adapt without breaking visual harmony, ensuring consistency across diverse content.
exterior booths - concept design
Mimicking vernacular pavilions, these open-air booths use organic, overhanging roofs and perforated screens to evoke natural ventilation. Earth-tone canopies and textured virtual materials forge a seamless link between built form and the digital landscape, offering a sense of place even in a fully virtual world.
