The Race Below
Trailer
The One Blue Voice immersive experience, commissioned by 11th Hour Racing in collaboration with The Ocean Race, is a powerful story-led journey designed to advocate for the preservation of ocean life. Presented at three main ports along the route of the Ocean Race 2022-23, this interactive space invites visitors to connect deeply with the ocean, from the joyful perspective of sailors to the sobering reality of its growing vulnerability due to human activities.
The experience was crafted to foster an emotional, empathetic connection with the ocean, while underscoring the urgent need to protect it. At each Race Village, visitors are transported aboard an IMOCA60 yacht racing offshore and then taken beneath the surface of the ocean in Tellart’s immersive experience, where they are introduced to the delicate marine ecosystems on which all life depends. From tiny phytoplankton to expansive seagrass meadows, visitors explore the hidden worlds of marine animals, learning how vital these ecosystems are to the health of our planet.
Tellart led the strategic storytelling, from concept development to the final script, creating a fully immersive environment through a blend of design craft and emerging technologies. Hand-painted and animated 3D worlds bring the ocean to life, while a custom-composed musical score and bilingual narration complete the multi-sensory experience. The result is an awe-inspiring journey, from the sailor's perspective above the waves to a visually stunning and sonically rich underwater realm.
Central to the experience is the LILLI, a volumetric light field display designed by Tyler Schoeppner at 11th Hour Racing. This reflective display anchors the main pavilion, offering a 360-degree viewable animation that I had the privilege of designing the content for. I crafted the animation’s style and movement to align with the script and sound design, immersing visitors in a narrative that unfolds across the surrounding walls, with marine characters' worlds brought to life in vibrant detail. Even "faceless" characters, like the seagrass meadows, ecosystems vital for carbon sequestration, play a significant role in building an emotional connection with the visitors.
In this immersive space, the seagrass meadows themselves invites guest interactions, placing them at the center of a larger ecological story. As visitors move through the experience, their actions directly influence the oceanic environment around them, encouraging a playful yet meaningful relationship with the underwater world. More than passive observers, guests become active participants in preserving these fragile ecosystems, understanding the delicate balance that sustains life in our oceans until now.
Through the One Blue Voice experience, 11th Hour Racing and The Ocean Race hope to inspire visitors to not only connect with the beauty of the ocean but to take action in protecting its future. This immersive journey is a compelling reminder that the health of the ocean is inextricably linked to the well-being of all life on Earth.