We filmed the video in a single shot, using a 360° camera with multiple lenses, mounted on a remote-controlled base, to achieve a smooth virtual tour experience. After the initial shoot at the technology centre, we created the ‘tour’ in post-production with a voiceover and a series of text ‘labels’ which were edited to appear inside the video that explain to the viewer exactly what they’re looking at, at each stage of the journey.

It was important to keep this on-screen information very brief, as people viewing the 360° tour have a lot to look at and pay attention to. We were also very careful to ensure that the information stays on screen longer than you would think necessary, in order to give people plenty of time to look around, and explore at their own pace.

The video was originally designed to be viewed with a VR headset, but otherwise it is best viewed on a mobile phone, as you can move your phone to ‘look around’ the centre. It can also be viewed on desktop, but you need to use your mouse to click and drag the screen to look around:

The 360° video tour has proved to be very successful, and it has opened the door to some high-value partnerships for Autodesk. When it was originally used at an event in Moscow, with a VR headset, it prompted several successful ‘in-person’ visits from companies in the target audience.

Now that visits to the centre aren’t possible due to the coronavirus pandemic, the video continues to work hard as an online conversion point and sales tool to pave the way towards the kind of innovative collaborations Autodesk is eager to begin.