CBC Black Country Edition of Area Culture Guide

Creative Black Country have teamed up with independent media company Fused to produce a special CBC edition of Area Culture Guide that includes a brilliant augmented reality cover.

Celebrating all things creative in the region the Black Country special edition features a cover that springs in to animation when using AR smart phone app Layar.

The animation, produced by artist duo Juneau Projects, had been commissioned by CBC’s 100 Masters project; a new campaign that looks to identify contemporary skilled people from the Black Country and help inspire future talent.

Using an illustration inspired by nominated master, Elizabeth Ilsley, a fashion designer and illustrator, the image triggers an animation based on the designer’s work.

Augmented Reality hit the headlines in 2016 with the launch of the hugely successful app Pokemon Go. AR is a developing technology that allows information to be placed, shared and viewed through a mobile device within the real world.

Juneau Projects have been using the technology for some time and have been busy working on a series of five hand-painted animations. “Each animation relates to one of the Masters.” Comments the duo. “The animations will be placed as augmented reality content within the upcoming Express & Star newspaper feature on the 100 Masters project.”

AR offers an exciting new way for readers to interact with print. “We’re really excited about the potential AR gives us to explore different ways to share content.” Comments Area Guide co-editor David O’Coy. “It has been great to work with Creative Black Country and Juneau Projects. We think we’re the first magazine in the Midlands to use this technology”.

The guide also features a number of CBC’s recent projects including Desi Pubs and Girls, Girls, Girls! as well as supported projects via the Groundworks and Open Access strand of the organisation.

Read it online here or request your copy by emailing info[@]creativeblackcountry.co.uk