You might not associate the term “senior QA engineer” with “creativity.”
Unless you’ve met Lucy Jones at Art Processors, that is.
Lucy and her team build creative storytelling technologies for some of the world’s finest museums, art galleries, and visitor attractions. These technologies help them create, manage, analyze, and deliver exceptional visitor experiences.
For instance, Art Processors recently created an original film that was projected across the sails of the Sydney Opera House. “My involvement was quite early on. It was making sure the audio-visual synchronization tech worked on different device types and operating systems,” Lucy says. “The end result was breathtaking.”
It’s safe to say that Lucy has found her dream workplace. She says, “Every piece of work I have been involved in I enjoy so much. I love working on our technology platform’s console and visitor experience app because you get to create experiences, then go and ‘live’ them via the app.”
What’s it like working in the world of immersive storytelling? And how did Lucy find her place at the intersection of art and technology? We sat down with Lucy to find out.
Entering the world of immersive storytelling
Like many millennials, Lucy grew up with Walkmans, Discmans, and MP3s. For her, it provoked an early curiosity about technology.
“I was really able to see the transition of technology, seeing how it’s evolved over the years,” she says. “Anything is possible, and I love that notion!”
In 2001, she toured the 6th-floor exhibit of The Texas School Book Depository, and that’s where her destiny in immersive storytelling began to unfold.
“You felt everything, the stories being told, the emotions on the day that JFK was shot — it was all still there! I had only ever read or watched programs about the assassination. At that moment, I was actually there feeling like I was living it,” she enthuses.
“I love how a story can be told, which you were never a part of originally, but by the power of technology, you are able to be a part of it. You can feel what that person felt. You get an understanding of their story and who they are! It’s something that is so memorable and unforgettable.”
Journeying with Art Processors
A friend sent Lucy a job advert from LinkedIn with the words: this is right up your street. Lucy proceeded to read about Art Processors — and immediately knew her friend was right.
“There is such an immense sense of pride working with Art Processors because of how we break the mold to really tell these stories,” she says.
“We have a dedicated AP Labs team who conduct experiments and try new things. Anything is possible! We do a lot of research and development to really try and understand what the client needs and how we can use technology to deliver that.”
Lucy found her fit supporting the engineers that develop and implement the functionalities bringing storytelling to life.
“Every story you will remember because of how it was told,” she says with a smile. “Being in that experience forms those everlasting memories, and it’s such a powerful tool for learning and understanding.
Power in diversity
Beyond creativity, Art Processors leverages another resource to build stories: diverse teams.
“People from all backgrounds with diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas enjoy the visitor experiences we build. It takes people with different backgrounds and points of view to build products that work better for everyone,” Lucy says.
Art Processors strives to ensure its products are accessible and inclusive, with multilingual capabilities and accessibility features such as transcriptions, Auslan/ASL videos, and more. The technology integrates with existing device accessibility settings and connects to audio induction loops.
“Art Processors is such an inclusive company that celebrates every single individual,” Lucy says. “We have an amazing understanding and caring focus towards each other.”
She quotes Bill Marklein, founder of Employ Humanity, saying, “Culture is how employees’ hearts and stomachs feel about Monday morning on Sunday night.”
According to Lucy, Art Processors understands that deeply.
3 tips for building a career at the intersection of art and technology
If you’re an engineer with a love for the arts or even an artist with the heart of an engineer, the sky’s the limit in the world of immersive storytelling. Thinking of a career in this nexus? Lucy has some advice to help you grow:
- “Don’t be afraid to be you or bring your whole self because your individuality is needed, celebrated, and welcomed.”
- “Think outside of the box, nothing is off-limits… There are many ways to tell a story and engage the visitor. How about through bone conduction? Yes, we experimented with that! We want the visitor walking away from that experience with their mind blown, feeling every aspect of the story being told.”
- “Research what is happening in the cultural sector. Actually visit different exhibitions, and broaden your horizons of what is out there.”
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