Signals 2024 is just around the corner, and if you miss it, well – you’ll be missing out. Especially if you’re in the creative tech field: as the premier exhibition of creative technology in North America, Signals will shape the next wave of immersive storytelling in XR, AI, virtual production and video games.

Attendees will have the chance to position themselves at the forefront of what’s next, connecting with the biggest creators, artists and producers. No other event brings together the artistic visionaries, the industry heavy-hitters or the sheer technological prowess of Signals.

“There’s such a range of work, by creators from across Canada, Turtle Island and the world,” says Signals Production & Operations Manager Laura Mitchell. “You’ll see a really broad, well-curated range of experiences that doesn’t exist anywhere else. No other major festival in Canada has an interactive presence like this.” From exclusive previews of yet-to-be-released video games by B.C.-based studios to immersive XR projects, Signals 2024 will push the boundaries of what’s possible in the universe of creative technology.

It will also shine a spotlight on the role of Indigenous creators in the tech space. No siloes or special sections, however: Indigenous works and creators are threaded throughout the entire exhibition, thanks to the leadership of Signals co-curator Loretta Todd of IM4, alongside co-curators Loc Dao and Debi Wong of DigiBC.

Whether you’re deeply embedded in the world of XR, AI and video games, or a curious outsider craving a glimpse of the future, read on to learn more about why Signals 2024 is a must-attend event.

Inside Signals: The Must-See Exhibitions

What is Laura excited to see personally when Signals kicks off Sept. 27? Since she’s been working pedal-to-the-metal for months to bring Signals to life, it’s impossible to play favourites. They’re all must-see, for the wildly creative and inspiring ways they approach the intersection of technology and storytelling.

However: “There are a couple of pieces that I’m really interested in for a variety of reasons,” she says. “Some are more commercial, ready for people to access and use, and some are very conceptual in a way that really appeals to me.”

On the conceptual end of the spectrum is Nocturnal Fugue. An interactive AI project by creators Matt McCorkle, Jiabao Li and Botao Amber Hu, the piece invites the viewer into an immersive world of bats, where the creatures’ social vocalizations are reinterpreted as music, set against digital recreations of their natural habitats. Users view the installation via bat-shaped masks IRL. “I think the mask element is very thoughtful,” says Laura. “The audience will love playing with those.”

Another standout that skews conceptual is Point of Reflection by Trevor Twells, an installation that captures a conversation with a visitor and plays it back with a delay, creating a virtual conversation with one’s self. With this poignant experiment, Twells aims to create space for participants to process the many events of the past four years, exploring themes of delayed trauma, race, confrontation and introspection. 

“I find this a really beautiful concept about exploring not only how you react to trauma, but reacting to your own reaction, as you watch a slightly delayed video feed of yourself being prompted or pushed or encouraged to think about all the things that have happened to us as a society,” says Laura. 

On the commercial side is Aexia, a VR role-playing app toolkit by producer Danilo Correia – already available for purchase  – that allows users to construct VR-based role-playing environments of any type or theme. “You could build any kind of narrative and your friends all over the world can play,” says Laura. “It’s like social VR, and it has a lot of potential for people to use it in really creative ways.

Notably, Aexi and Point of Reflection are also products of XR Lab, a transformative year-long DigiBC program dedicated to fostering innovation in XR. XR Lab pairs mid-career, equity-seeking and emerging XR producers like Danilo and Trevor with seasoned mentors and the latest tech tools, to push the bounds of immersive storytelling. Three other 2024 Signals exhibits are the fruit of XR Lab mentorships from the past year: Huckleberry by Tracey Kim Bonneau, Protopica by Will Selviz and Manuel Sainsily and Digital Feast by Raven John. “We were able to support these mid-career producers in taking not only their projects, but their careers, to the next level,” says Laura.

AI and Storytelling: the FutureCraft Symposium

It’s a sign of the times – current and future – that another major focus of Signals 2024 will be AI. “From an artistic perspective, we’re really going to see the potential of AI at Signals this year,” says Laura. Alongside its potential, though, the technology brings up ethical and legal concerns, as well as questions about original thought and the ever-evolving toolkit of the creative tech professional.

These issues will be up for deeper discussion at FutureCraft: Reimagining Creativity with AI, the Signals AI Symposium running October 2–3, where artists, creative technologists, producers, film directors and academics will engage in dynamic dialogues about the future of creativity and AI. 

The symposium will also be screening several short AI-driven films, in collaboration with Pacific Future. For example: “Robort” by Sebastian Macchia (Nobody & the Computer), about a human singer who pretends to be a robot in a dystopian future and “I’m Tired of Being Hyper-Surveilled,” by Tara Rose Morris & Heno, confronting surveillance on the marginalized body in America.

Connect with Other Innovators at Beta Lounge

At its core, Signals is about building connections, and Beta Lounge is where these connections come to life, September 27–28. This exclusive component of the Signals Creative Tech Expo designed to facilitate high-level B2B interactions and networking opportunities.

Designed as a space for casual networking and collaboration, Beta Lounge offers a chilled-out environment for industry professionals, creators, and innovators to meet, share ideas, and discuss potential partnerships. This includes MeetToMatch-facilitated networking, special industry panels and exclusive previews of  groundbreaking projects and technologies that are shaping the future of XR and gaming. 

“Some very big names in the gaming industry are set to attend and take meetings, so that’s very exciting” says Laura. Among them: Lauren Hunter of Square Enix Games, Corey Caplan of Tinybuild, Chloe Guisti of Xbox and others.

XP Indie Biz Connect happens September 27 as part of Beta Lounge, honing in on the business of indie game development, and bringing  attendees together with the people and knowledge needed to succeed in a competitive industry.  This is the venue for you if you have an indie game and an elevator pitch. 

“Games aren’t made in a vacuum – you need relationships, and this is a means of building those relationships with people who can not only help make your game, but also help get it distributed and out to the public,” says Laura. In past years, XP Indie Biz Connect has been a launchpad for many new ventures and successful partnerships.

Experience the Future of Creative Technology

Bottom line? “Signals is an incredible opportunity for people in Vancouver and B.C. It’s so rare for work like this to be collected in one place, and to see custom-created physical exhibitions that showcase interactive art,” says Laura. Vancouverites have no idea how lucky they are, essentially: “If you live in Vancouver, especially, you need to come to Signals, because this is an event of extreme rarity.”

Signals 2024 runs September 27–October 6, 2024 at the Emily Carr Centre for Digital Media. Don’t miss your chance to be part of creative tech innovation – get your tickets ASAP.