Preston Platt, CTO and founder of Rock Paper Reality, joins the show to share how his team pushes the limits of XR development by blending AI workflows with rapid prototyping. With more than 16 years of experience in 3D modelling, animation, and spatial computing, Preston has built AR and MR projects for mobile, smartglasses, and headsets like the Apple Vision Pro. In this conversation, he explains how his studio embraces AI to accelerate code and asset generation, the role of generalists in creative teams, and why open XR remains critical for cross-platform development. He also reflects on the challenges of AI-driven characters, latency in NPC interactions, and the tradeoffs between artistry and automation. Listeners will gain insights into emerging workflows, platform adoption, and the future of shared immersive experiences across devices.

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Roy Rodenaheuser is a London-based Creative Technologist with over 12 years of experience at Yahoo, Unity, and Capgemini. In this episode he shares the story behind Canvastique3D, a project he launched in 2024 that blends physical creativity with real-time 3D visualization. Canvastique3D allows designers, artists, and even industries like textiles and furniture to project physical materials and artwork directly onto digital 3D models, opening new possibilities for rapid prototyping and product visualization.

We discuss how creatives across fashion, interior design, toys, and even beverage branding are experimenting with the tool, and why simplicity often wins over photorealism. Roy also explains his approach to balancing full-time work with side projects, the role of storytelling in product demos, and why sharing prototypes early is crucial. Listeners will gain insights into bridging physical and digital workflows, strategies for validation, and practical advice for creative technologists.

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Manuel, a TEDx speaker, former head of XR Design at IBM Canada and Currently Emerging tech Advocate at Unity, brings 15 years of experience across industries from aerospace to gaming and now teaches at institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. In this episode, he discusses how creativity is shifting in an era where AI lowers barriers to entry, allowing more diverse voices to contribute. Manuel shares insights from his cultural preservation project Protopica, created with filmmaker Will Selviz, which uses AI, to explore Caribbean futurism and interactive storytelling. He reflects on the surprises and limitations of AI in creative workflows, the balance between specialization and generalist skills, and the importance of play and curiosity for future generations of creatives. The conversation also dives into education for AI-native children, ethical considerations around tools, and how recruiters now value storytelling and adaptability more than formal credentials.

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🟢 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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