NEWVIEW School – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

May 3, 2022

Toronto & London NEWVIEW School Application Deadline Extended

If you love exploring your artistic talents, and getting creative with new digital mediums like virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) then Psychic VR Labs’ cloud platform STYLY has been designed to do just that. To help in that endeavour the Japanese studio launched its NEWVIEW School several years ago to help budding artists get into XR art. Since then the school has expanded beyond Japan into Toronto, Canada and London, UK, with sign-ups still open until this coming weekend.

This will be the fifth year for NEWVIEW School in Tokyo, its second in London and its first in Toronto. Previously an in-person event, NEWVIEW School 2022 is moving to a hybrid model so that it can facilitate attendees both remotely and those that still wish to take part in a physical event.

Each school is slightly different in the fact that the curriculum is tailored to the host country but the broad scope is that all attendees will learn STYLY and Unity. There will be a myriad of additional topics including photogrammetry and optimising for different devices, ensuring artists have the skills to easily publish their works. They’ll also be able to take part in the annual NEWVIEW Awards.

Thanks to its hybrid learning model NEWVIEW School is accepting applications from across Europe, with the online modules running from 9th – 30th June, with the weekly lectures beginning on 7th July. Spaces are limited with the tuition priced at £450 GBP. The Toronto school modules begin on 2nd June with the course costing $750 CAD.

STYLY’s events aren’t purely geared around the NEWVIEW School either. Whether you live in London or not there’s the regular ‘AR & VR Artists London’ Meetup group, another hybrid event for XR artists. The next one takes place on 31st May featuring a hands-on workshop from resident XR artist Barney Kass.

Applications for NEWVIEW School 2022 in Toronto and London will now close on 7th May. For continued updates, keep reading gmw3.

March 1, 2022

NEWVIEW XR Art School Returns With Campuses in Japan, UK & Canada

Last year, Japanese XR studio Psychic VR Lab went international with its NEWVIEW School, an initiative teaching creators how to build immersive artworks using its STYLY platform. Today, the studio has announced NEWVIEW School 2022 as well as a new addition, Canada.

With its return for 2022, the NEWVIEW School will now hold events in Japan for the fifth year in a row, Taiwan (in its third year), the UK (in its second year) and the inaugural year for Toronto, Canada. And because countries are now beginning to open up again, the NEWVIEW School will move to a hybrid model offering local attendees in-person lectures alongside remote learning for those unable to travel.

Each school will have its own tailored curriculum to suit the culture of the host location whilst providing opportunities to learn more about virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies. Components will focus on several topics ranging from Unity basics through to photogrammetry, optimising for different devices, and, of course, using Psychic VR Labs’ content creation platform STYLY.

“The NEWVIEW School is an exciting opportunity for budding artists to develop their skills further,” said Ryohei Watanabe, CMO Psychic VR Lab in a statement. “It’s not just for experienced artists but for anyone who’s ever considered the possibility of bringing their dreams to life. Fashion designers, architects, gamers and music artists have all been a part of NEWVIEW in the past, and with this year’s school we’re encouraging more people from diverse backgrounds to join us!”

“STYLY and Psychic VR Lab have a very community-minded ethos and are all about embracing our future of mixed realities,” adds Miriam Arbus, Local Coordinator, NEWVIEW School Toronto. “I’m passionate about enabling artists, and in the spirit of experimentation and pushing boundaries, NEWVIEW provides an outstanding educational platform that equips artists and designers to create whatever they dream up.”

If you’re interested in applying for NEWVIEW School 2022 applications open today for their respective countries with launch dates still to be revealed. For further updates, keep reading gmw3.

May 18, 2021

NEWVIEW School UK Applications Close Soon, Discount Code Inside

Several weeks ago VRFocus reported on Japanese studio, Psychic VR Lab, and the plans to open its NEWVIEW School for budding XR artists in the UK. With the remote programme beginning in June, there are now two weeks left for those that are interested to apply. Plus, VRFocus has a discount offer to make it even more tempting.

NEWVIEW School London continues the work the original Japanese programme began three years ago, encouraging artists and other creators who have an interest in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to participate and expand their knowledge base. The course will be a combination of STYLY Studio, Psychic VR Lab’s online creative platform and Unity, which is required to build the projects.

For those unfamiliar with Unity – a videogame engine used to build a lot of VR titles – NEWVIEW School London will hold a primer course to get participants up to speed on the software. The main programme will then commence on 19th June comprising a total of 14 lectures running from 10 am – 3 pm BST, concluding on 25th September 2021. It’ll be held entirely remotely via Zoom due to Covid restrictions. A VR headset is required but if attendees don’t have access to one the school will be able to supply an Oculus Quest 2 (which will need to be returned).

The XR programme will be led by Barney Kass, a London based artist and sound designer, with lectures featuring various creative specialists. These will include Alex Ruhl, an award-winning VR filmmaker and founder of VR production studio CATS are not PEAS, Patrick Haraguti, CTO of Fallen Planet Studios (Affected – The Manor), and Lili Éva Bartha, XR Creative Tech Lead and Founder of Digital Fashion Framework Innovation Lab.

Since its launch in 2017, STYLY has facilitated artistic expression within VR and then more recently AR. An entirely cloud-based solution, STYLY continues to expand thanks Psychic VR Lab managing to raise $8.5 million USD (¥900m JPY) a few months ago. Its most recent update added official support for 3D models built within Tilt Brush, allowing artists to export their designs directly. Useful considering Google Poly is shuttering soon.

If you’re interested in NEWVIEW School London you can apply here. The course will cost £450 GBP. For a 10% discount simply add VRF10 after your last name on the application form. For continued updates, keep reading VRFocus.

April 12, 2021

Psychic VR Labs’ NEWVIEW School Heads to the UK This Summer

Japanese studio Psychic VR Lab has built a name for itself within the XR space thanks to its STYLY creative platform and its accompanying events, the NEWVIEW Awards. There’s another part to the family which has yet to go international but soon will, the NEWVIEW School. Today, the studio has announced that the programme will be making its European debut in the UK this summer.

Psychic VR Lab launched the NEWVIEW School three years ago in Japan as a way for creators to develop their knowledge of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) and bring their ideas to life. So the course is designed to teach artists from the ground up, no matter their skill level, ideal for those looking to explore the XR space.

NEWVIEW School London will take place during the summer, teaching applicants how to utilise Unity in combination with STYLY to create artworks. This will go from shaders and textures all the way through to a fully realised piece of art. The course will be led by Barney Kass, a London based artist and sound designer, with a total of 14 lectures being held with participation from Lili Éva Bartha, XR Creative Tech Lead and Founder of Digital Fashion Framework Innovation Lab; Alex Ruhl, an award-winning VR filmmaker and founder of VR production studio CATS are not PEAS; and Patrick Haraguti, CTO of Fallen Planet Studios. Each bringing their own expertise to the school.

“We are excited to announce the launch of our first NEWVIEW School in Europe with our flagship programme in London, UK. Psychic VR Lab is looking forward to growing our NEWVIEW community and helping to inspire XR artists and creators with this new school,” said Ryohei Watanabe, CMO Psychic VR Lab in a statement. “We hope that the NEWVIEW SCHOOL will inspire, encourage, and build confidence in artistic expression in XR.”

VR Manga World for STYLY, NEWVIEW Awards 2019 Silver Prize winner

“The idea isn’t so much about teaching everyone how to build VR or AR applications, it’s how to use AR/VR to create the images they already have in their head,” Kevin Joyce, Global Partner told VRFocus. “[Psychic VR Lab] wants more diversity in the NEWVIEW Awards, they want more people from around the world included in the awards and potentially winning that £20,000 USD prize. It’s about globalisation and democratising the access roads to XR. It’s not just about the diversity of the people committing the art but the flavour of the art received by the NEWVIEW Awards.

The NEWVIEW School will be held remotely, with VR headset loans available as well as a primer course and Meetup group for those unfamiliar with Unity. It’ll run between 19th June – 25th September 2021, cost £450 to join and spaces will be limited to 40 people with applications open from today.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Psychic VR Lab, STYLY and NEWVIEW School, reporting back with further updates.