VR Helment for National Geographic

Designed at Tomorrow Lab

Why we created this

The Astronaut Virtual Reality Helmet gives viewers an astronaut’s perspective of earth and provides a space experience no VR headset can deliver. In collaboration with McCann NY and FrameStore, Tomorrow Lab created a wearable cinematic experience to promote the launch of the new National Geographic television series "One Strange Rock", directed by Darren Aronofsky and hosted by Will Smith.

The Challenges

The helmets take design cues from a real astronaut helmet, including a lower body harness and articulating visor. In order to re-create an astronaut’s view of Earth from space, the visor itself is actually a projection screen, specially textured and painted to allow content to be seen on the interior and exterior surfaces. The dome is big enough to allow a user to look around inside without feeling claustrophobic, but not so big that it creates a ridiculous experience when wearing it.

© Ben Oppenheimer 2024

bop.oppenheimer@gmail.com