Tag: clickspring

Clickspring Pets Adapt to Work From Home

May 28, 2020

The past few months have been a period of adjustment for all of us at Clickspring Design. We are working from home and learning to adapt to video calls instead of face-to-face meetings… and so are our pets!

Our pets convened without us for a happy hour last week to discuss the future of broadcast set design and corporate branded interiors. Check out this screen grab from their Zoom meeting! Most of them were able to get video and audio set up correctly, but others seemed to have a tougher learning curve (looking at you Carlow and Rhona). Only a few were caught napping (Bee, Cheeto, Max, Babs, and River), three were highly overwhelmed (Lulu, Cloudy, and Cutesie), and two were extremely fed up (Beez and Toboe).

Overall, we are so impressed by how quickly they’ve picked up a new tool.

 

Al Arabiya Reinvents Traditional Studio Methodologies

May 20, 2020

We created a brand-new design revamp for Al Arabiya’s on-air spaces. This redesign includes cutting edge technology utilizing LED panels and robotic cameras to propel the network into the future of broadcast.

This new Al Arabiya design reinvents traditional studio methodologies by distributing multiple broadcast zones throughout an active newsroom environment. Decentralization allows numerous camera positions focused both toward the interior and especially toward the exterior of the space – multiplying the options for a diverse on-air presence while creating a unique sense of place.

We created specific spaces for each kind of broadcast to thrive: news coverage with LED arrays to support longer and more in-depth reporting, social media coverage with tall narrow displays mimicking that of a smart phone, and reporting analytics shown by multiple graphics in a dynamic dashboard format.

Check out this article for an in depth look at our work with Al Arabiya.

Al Arabiya Uses Robotic Cameras and Augmented Reality in New Dubai HQ

April 28, 2020
Our redesign for Al Arabiya is live! Years in the making, our comprehensive master plan of their Dubai headquarters included the design of three state-of -the-art open studios and facilities supporting over two hundred positions for editorial and technical staff. Thirteen robotic cameras facilitate a variety of augmented reality applications, giving the network an ability to operate 24/7 and allowing technicians to change the studios’ graphics and lighting in seconds to accommodate a variety of shows and social media.
With 24/7 free-to-air news and current affairs content, the Al Arabiya News Channel is the top ranked news channel in the region and reaches 36 million viewers per week. The network has recently seen a strong increase in digital and social media content, and their technology upgrade will help continue this growth. “The network has always stayed ahead of the curve compared to its competitors by renewing itself either through branding or improving its content,” says Mamdouh Almuhaini, General Manager of the Al Arabiya Media Network. Our goal was to help them continue this trend as the future of broadcast design evolves.
Check out this article for more information.

UT Austin Features Clickspring Design Intern Jacob T. Middleton

April 14, 2020

Jacob T. Middleton, our very own intern turned full-time resident, sat down (virtually) with the Professional Residency Program at The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture to discuss his time with Clickspring Design. Jacob’s professional residency earns him a full semester of course credit over eight months of full time work, allowing firsthand experience of what to expect after graduation. Spoiler alert: from office lunches, to brainstorming sessions, and Friday happy hours, Jacob likes how our team’s close-knit culture keeps him motivated.

Check out his full interview for a look into life as a resident at Clickspring Design!

CNN Adapts to News Cycle in Real-Time with Vizrt

March 24, 2020

CNN underwent a complete facility redesign when they relocated New York headquarters to Hudson Yards in 2019. Not only did they upgrade both their studios and offices, but they also completed an internal systems overhaul. We helped them combine cutting-edge technology with the ability for real-time in-studio adjustments from tracking anchor desks, movable scenery, and over 6,000 square of LED wall.

With brand new technology from Vizrt, CNN can now transcode data tiles in seconds that would have previously taken 2 hours to complete. Shawn Mckeever, senior systems engineer with CNN’s Broadcast IT Advanced Systems Group elaborates, “The days of the static studio are gone. Movement and text in the wall keep viewers engaged and overall present a better product.”

This switch from SDI to SMPTE ST 2110 allows for incredibly high speeds to display news graphics, animations, cityscape scenery, beauty shots, and virtual video monitors for remote guests.

Because Vizrt installed 10,000 fiber optic runs in the new Hudson Yards space, CNN is set up to stay ahead of the curve as broadcast technology continues to advance. Check out this case study from Vizrt for a technical look at CNN’s massive systems’ upgrade.

Check out live footage of this technology in action below:

Versatile CNN Studio 19x Hosts Town Hall on Coronavirus

March 11, 2020

In the wake of a global outbreak of COVID-19, CNN hosted a town hall entitled “Coronavirus: Facts and Fears” in Studio 19x to highlight everything known about the pandemic. Studio 19x in CNN’s Hudson Yards headquarters was designed to be re-purposed for town halls on important breaking news topics. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta mediated the televised two hour special event on Thursday, March 5th.

The two hosts mediated discussions from health experts and community members, as well as CNN correspondents across the globe. Guests were able to connect directly with those correspondents in studio via satellite video live feed onto LED screen surrounding the stage. They responded to questions on testing, confirmed cases, states of emergency, preventative measures, and legitimacy of data. The set’s technology can bring together correspondents and experts at this centralized Studio 19x location in New York City and connect them with viewer to give helpful and live saving information in real time.

The scenic design placed the hosts on a central, circular LED platform surrounded by audience seating. LED walls are positioned on an inner, oval-shaped track to define the content-rich yet closely scaled perimeter. Monitor stacks and rotating LED screens display the focused COVID-19 discussion topics with audience seating in the round to allow for participation in an intimate setting, especially highlighting the seriousness of this topic. Throughout the broadcast, the hosts moved from standing to seated high back chairs as more guests were added.

For clips and all the questions discussed in the town hall, check out CNN’s live updates on COVID-19.

NBC Democratic Debate Field Narrows in Las Vegas

February 20, 2020

On Wednesday, February 20th, six candidates took the stage at the Paris Theatre in Las Vegas for another NBC Democratic Presidential Debate. As the field narrows ahead of the Nevada caucuses, we saw six key players continue the journey to see who will become the democrats’ presidential nominee. If you missed the debate you can catch up on all the fireworks (and ever-so-thoughtful scenic design) with this short recap below!

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CCTV’s New Studios Focus on Technology First

February 5, 2020

How does broadcast work towards the future of design? We tackle this issue by putting technology at the forefront of our studio designs. With CCTV’s new studios, we used virtual and augmented reality to propel China’s largest news network into a brand new, innovative space.

Christopher Ferguson, our Director of Business Development, elaborates: “We’re seeing more 360 studios organized by continuous perimeter scenery, just like CCTV Studio 7. Among my peers there is this tendency to assume the future of scenic design is entirely virtual, but I forecast the continued rise of hybrid studios that incorporate hard scenery and physical AV elements.” The CCTV teams plan to use a combination of AR and VR in both Studios 7 and 11.

Packed with technology, these two brand new studio spaces allow CCTV to thrive in the increasing demands of cutting-edge broadcasting in China. Check out AV Magazine’s feature for an in depth look at our design process.

Clickspring’s CNN Iowa Debate Set Shines in Intimate Venue

January 15, 2020

Six candidates took the debate stage in Iowa as the field narrows closer to the 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary. This January 14th debate, hosted by CNN and The Des Moines Register, is the smallest participant pool we have seen yet this cycle. The venue, Sheslow Auditorium at Drake University, was significantly smaller, too. For reference, the Ohio debate audience held 1,000 guests, Detroit held 2,200, and this debate only had room for 456. Because of this, we were tasked with creating innovative design solutions to adapt and scale our set down without compromising integrity of the overall design.

Adrienne Kapalko, our Director of Operations, describes the lighting solutions, shown left and below:

“We had the opportunity to get creative when it came to the rigging needed for scenic and lighting. In lieu of floor supported truss traditionally used in this space the team was able to identify an attic space with structural beams directly above the stage and house. This was game changing as it allowed the truss for the lighting and scenic elements to be suspended through the ceiling, strategically aligning the pick points with existing architectural house lights to avoid any damage to the auditorium. Identifying these structural beams in the attic made it possible to carry the load of the lights, let us maximize audience by avoiding ground supported infrastructure, and allowed a much cleaner visual aesthetic in the smaller venue.”

We got to work designing for this smaller venue less than a month prior to the debate. By planning ahead in the initial design for an adaptable set, we ensured the modular pieces would accommodate large venues and candidate pools, as well as small venues with fewer candidates. While we did not use the circular truss with illuminated stars that normally hangs above the debate stage this time around, we were able to include a modified version of the video wall and the full moderator desk, ultimately maintaining the integrity of our design. We really enjoyed working with the team to create innovative design solutions, especially with the lighting. It’s what makes us tick! Check out more photos from the night here.

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