Creating Between Worlds: Paolo Villanueva on Working in Liberal Arts and Technology
Written by: Iris H. Mauricio
Publication: MindaNews
Date published: February 25, 2024
We’re living in an age where science fiction concepts are truly beginning to step outside the world of fiction. From the leaps that have been made in Artificial Intelligence, to revolutionary developments with everyday technology — things that once used to be achievable only through one’s imagination have instead become more of the norm.
All over the globe, brilliant minds are constantly at work turning fiction into reality. To the average person, it can be difficult to understand what they’re working on or how their mind works, but sometimes we’re lucky enough to be able to sit down with one of them for a conversation where they can give us a glimpse into their world. In this case, a Filipino from Mindanao, a 2012 graduate of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the Ateneo de Davao University, who is leading the way in innovation in immersive technology: Paolo Pariñas Villanueva.
[Photo: Paolo Villanueva. Text: Paolo Villanueva, Creative Director for Heizenrader in Utah, United States. Contributed photo]
At the forefront of revolutionary technology
Currently a Creative Director for Heizenrader, a company based out of Utah that works on immersive simulations mainly used for educational purposes in the medical field, Paolo has a formidable career behind him in the field of technology, design, and media production. He’s been helping lead Heizenrader through various projects as its Creative Director, a major one of which is the development and building of the platform, EducationXR.
“EducationXR is a platform that allows users to create immersive learning experiences with no code on a computer,” Paolo said about the project. “Think of it like Google Slides meets Google Quiz, but in 3D.” He elaborated that the platform is able to run on multiple devices like iPhones, iPads, and iMacs, as well as on Windows, Android phones, and other VR headsets. “It’s a unique platform because you can create a prototype course with as little as squares and circles to convey your idea before the 3D art is created.” The ease at which the platform can be used makes it so that Paolo can even build a prototype himself in no less than 15 to 30 minutes and have their clients experience the immersive course on almost any device.
Impressive as that already sounds, what’s even more remarkable is who is using EducationXR, with Heizenrader having top clients such as General Electric, Mass General Hospital in Boston, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It’s a tool used to create all kinds of learning experiences, and for our clients right now that means educational simulations for medical institutions and medical device manufacturers,” Paolo said. “Like for example, for the CDC, we created an infection prevention simulation experience to train healthcare workers how to identify and disinfect various rooms in a special containment wing of the hospital.”
For Paolo, fulfillment comes from knowing how their technology is used to create learning simulation tools for aspiring learners. “These are the people who go on to become doctors, surgeons, nurses, etc,” Paolo noted with a hint of pride. “I’m glad our work gets to show how virtual reality (or spatial computing) can benefit education. All doctors are always constantly learning which makes EducationXR a compelling use case by our medical clients.”
A melting pot of experience
A degree holder of an MFA in Design and Technology from Parson’s School of Design, Paolo’s background is a decorated one. Some previous notable projects had him as Lead Level Designer on a cross-platform Metaverse MMORPG, wherein he worked closely with partners like Lionsgate and Louis Vuitton, as well as a creator of his own Virtual Reality game inspired by his Filipino roots, Tales of Aswang. All these experiences, Paolo feels, have made him capable of doing what he’s doing with Heizenrader today.
[Photo: Paolo Villanueva at a booth of Ateneo De Davao University. Text: Paolo Villanueva (2nd from left) is a 2012 graduate of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the Ateneo de Davao University. Contributed photo]
“My job as a Creative Director has a lot of collaboration involved,” Paolo noted. “I meet with clients to plan projects or move them along, I brainstorm with designers, artists, and engineers to plan new features or interactions, and I playtest experiences in progress so I can provide more creative direction.” It’s always a packed day with a schedule full of things similar to his previous projects in media and games.
In fact, making the transition to producing immersive training for the medicinal field surprised Paolo with how familiar the work still felt. “It’s really similar in the sense that I work with a team, which is how it’s like when producing a film or broadcast or show, the details just vary in terms of how we iterate, document, and produce the output.” He mentioned how despite the differences, the main bulk of the work still feels the same, with the testing sessions, brainstorming, paper prototyping, storyboard sessions, and more.
[Photo: Paolo Villanueva with friends. Text: Paolo Villanueva (standing on the left side) during a visit to a museum with colleagues from different parts of the world. Contributed photo]
Of course, such complex work also comes with its own set of difficulties. For Paolo, the challenges often lie in designing interaction systems and UI/UX that can work for every possible device, or being able to design the best experience for each device. “It’s very similar to accessibility, really, in that you design for a wide range of users. In this case, we design for a wide range of devices. But of course, we also design for accessibility.”
Paolo was also excited to share recent project highlights from 2023, which were their project with one of the largest pharmaceutical companies, Becton Dickinson, the CDC Pilot Launch in Stanford Hospital in California, Nicklous Children’s Hospital in Florida, Carilion Clinic in Virginia, UConn Health in Connecticut, and Edwards Lifesciences in Irvine California, as well as recently winning a grant to work with the U.S. Air Force. “A lot of these projects allowed us to discover new things that we patented last year,” Paolo said.
Onwards and upwards
Right before we wrapped up, Paolo was happy to share what projects he has in store for the future as well. He’s looking forward to bringing Tales of Aswang to the Apple Vision Pro, working on cool and exciting projects with the Air Force, and proceeding with the next phases of Heizenrader’s project for the CDC. Just as it always has been, his plate of passions is overflowing. “We are in the process of researching the capabilities of AI, especially in course creation, and aiding that process even quicker,” Paolo said.
As for advice for any creatives interested in having a portfolio as colorful as his? “Be curious. Try things, do things, and dream about them. Then wake up and start understanding them, and then try building them,” Paolo said. He finds the fascination in his work by bringing up an example: the observation of why some doors pull, and why some push. “If you analyze a room and imagine various scenarios, like a fire, you’d think ‘Would people have time to pull a door?’ No, they’d need to push it. Even observing something as trivial as doors can tell a lot about the environment and those who occupy the space. My job is not just about leveraging the latest tools or platforms; it’s about rethinking how we approach problems and envision solutions. This involves a deep reflection on the design disciplines and the ethical implications of our creations, ensuring that what we build is not only innovative but also responsible and inclusive.”
[Photo: Paolo Villanueva. Text: Paolo Villanueva of Davao City dreams of bringinh his virtual reality game, ‘Tales of tne Awang,’ to the Apple Vision Pro. Contributed photo]
Paolo also highlighted how it’s important to experiment and not focus so hard on trying to force your passions into one box. “No matter what you do, you’ll always end up doing what you like. Mine was always the intersection of multiple disciplines, which made it hard to pin down what I wanted to be when I was younger.” For Paolo, his role as Creative Director for Heizenrader perfectly encapsulates what he refers to as his “lifelong journey at the crossroads of liberal arts and technology.”
If you’re interested to know more about Paolo and his work, you can visit his website https://paolopv.com/ to see his portfolio, as well as https://heizenrader.com/ to see more about the company he works for.
(Iris H. Mauricio, a Manila-based creative, is a degree-holder of First Class and Distinction BA and MA degrees in Creative Writing from Brunel University London. She mainlines poetry, short fiction, and screenwriting, with her works often exploring themes of relationships, mental health, history, mythology, and pop culture. She has been published in various literary zines, pamphlets, and anthologies since 2010, and currently works as a copywriter in advertising. When she isn’t busy wrestling her muses, she can be found spending her time living a sedentary life similar to that of a cat: eating, limited socializing, and succumbing to bouts of lethargy when caught in warm patches of sunlight).
All over the globe, brilliant minds are constantly at work turning fiction into reality. To the average person, it can be difficult to understand what they’re working on or how their mind works, but sometimes we’re lucky enough to be able to sit down with one of them for a conversation where they can give us a glimpse into their world. In this case, a Filipino from Mindanao, a 2012 graduate of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the Ateneo de Davao University, who is leading the way in innovation in immersive technology: Paolo Pariñas Villanueva.
[Photo: Paolo Villanueva. Text: Paolo Villanueva, Creative Director for Heizenrader in Utah, United States. Contributed photo]
At the forefront of revolutionary technology
Currently a Creative Director for Heizenrader, a company based out of Utah that works on immersive simulations mainly used for educational purposes in the medical field, Paolo has a formidable career behind him in the field of technology, design, and media production. He’s been helping lead Heizenrader through various projects as its Creative Director, a major one of which is the development and building of the platform, EducationXR.
“EducationXR is a platform that allows users to create immersive learning experiences with no code on a computer,” Paolo said about the project. “Think of it like Google Slides meets Google Quiz, but in 3D.” He elaborated that the platform is able to run on multiple devices like iPhones, iPads, and iMacs, as well as on Windows, Android phones, and other VR headsets. “It’s a unique platform because you can create a prototype course with as little as squares and circles to convey your idea before the 3D art is created.” The ease at which the platform can be used makes it so that Paolo can even build a prototype himself in no less than 15 to 30 minutes and have their clients experience the immersive course on almost any device.
Impressive as that already sounds, what’s even more remarkable is who is using EducationXR, with Heizenrader having top clients such as General Electric, Mass General Hospital in Boston, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It’s a tool used to create all kinds of learning experiences, and for our clients right now that means educational simulations for medical institutions and medical device manufacturers,” Paolo said. “Like for example, for the CDC, we created an infection prevention simulation experience to train healthcare workers how to identify and disinfect various rooms in a special containment wing of the hospital.”
For Paolo, fulfillment comes from knowing how their technology is used to create learning simulation tools for aspiring learners. “These are the people who go on to become doctors, surgeons, nurses, etc,” Paolo noted with a hint of pride. “I’m glad our work gets to show how virtual reality (or spatial computing) can benefit education. All doctors are always constantly learning which makes EducationXR a compelling use case by our medical clients.”
A melting pot of experience
A degree holder of an MFA in Design and Technology from Parson’s School of Design, Paolo’s background is a decorated one. Some previous notable projects had him as Lead Level Designer on a cross-platform Metaverse MMORPG, wherein he worked closely with partners like Lionsgate and Louis Vuitton, as well as a creator of his own Virtual Reality game inspired by his Filipino roots, Tales of Aswang. All these experiences, Paolo feels, have made him capable of doing what he’s doing with Heizenrader today.
[Photo: Paolo Villanueva at a booth of Ateneo De Davao University. Text: Paolo Villanueva (2nd from left) is a 2012 graduate of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the Ateneo de Davao University. Contributed photo]
“My job as a Creative Director has a lot of collaboration involved,” Paolo noted. “I meet with clients to plan projects or move them along, I brainstorm with designers, artists, and engineers to plan new features or interactions, and I playtest experiences in progress so I can provide more creative direction.” It’s always a packed day with a schedule full of things similar to his previous projects in media and games.
In fact, making the transition to producing immersive training for the medicinal field surprised Paolo with how familiar the work still felt. “It’s really similar in the sense that I work with a team, which is how it’s like when producing a film or broadcast or show, the details just vary in terms of how we iterate, document, and produce the output.” He mentioned how despite the differences, the main bulk of the work still feels the same, with the testing sessions, brainstorming, paper prototyping, storyboard sessions, and more.
[Photo: Paolo Villanueva with friends. Text: Paolo Villanueva (standing on the left side) during a visit to a museum with colleagues from different parts of the world. Contributed photo]
Of course, such complex work also comes with its own set of difficulties. For Paolo, the challenges often lie in designing interaction systems and UI/UX that can work for every possible device, or being able to design the best experience for each device. “It’s very similar to accessibility, really, in that you design for a wide range of users. In this case, we design for a wide range of devices. But of course, we also design for accessibility.”
Paolo was also excited to share recent project highlights from 2023, which were their project with one of the largest pharmaceutical companies, Becton Dickinson, the CDC Pilot Launch in Stanford Hospital in California, Nicklous Children’s Hospital in Florida, Carilion Clinic in Virginia, UConn Health in Connecticut, and Edwards Lifesciences in Irvine California, as well as recently winning a grant to work with the U.S. Air Force. “A lot of these projects allowed us to discover new things that we patented last year,” Paolo said.
Onwards and upwards
Right before we wrapped up, Paolo was happy to share what projects he has in store for the future as well. He’s looking forward to bringing Tales of Aswang to the Apple Vision Pro, working on cool and exciting projects with the Air Force, and proceeding with the next phases of Heizenrader’s project for the CDC. Just as it always has been, his plate of passions is overflowing. “We are in the process of researching the capabilities of AI, especially in course creation, and aiding that process even quicker,” Paolo said.
As for advice for any creatives interested in having a portfolio as colorful as his? “Be curious. Try things, do things, and dream about them. Then wake up and start understanding them, and then try building them,” Paolo said. He finds the fascination in his work by bringing up an example: the observation of why some doors pull, and why some push. “If you analyze a room and imagine various scenarios, like a fire, you’d think ‘Would people have time to pull a door?’ No, they’d need to push it. Even observing something as trivial as doors can tell a lot about the environment and those who occupy the space. My job is not just about leveraging the latest tools or platforms; it’s about rethinking how we approach problems and envision solutions. This involves a deep reflection on the design disciplines and the ethical implications of our creations, ensuring that what we build is not only innovative but also responsible and inclusive.”
[Photo: Paolo Villanueva. Text: Paolo Villanueva of Davao City dreams of bringinh his virtual reality game, ‘Tales of tne Awang,’ to the Apple Vision Pro. Contributed photo]
Paolo also highlighted how it’s important to experiment and not focus so hard on trying to force your passions into one box. “No matter what you do, you’ll always end up doing what you like. Mine was always the intersection of multiple disciplines, which made it hard to pin down what I wanted to be when I was younger.” For Paolo, his role as Creative Director for Heizenrader perfectly encapsulates what he refers to as his “lifelong journey at the crossroads of liberal arts and technology.”
If you’re interested to know more about Paolo and his work, you can visit his website https://paolopv.com/ to see his portfolio, as well as https://heizenrader.com/ to see more about the company he works for.
(Iris H. Mauricio, a Manila-based creative, is a degree-holder of First Class and Distinction BA and MA degrees in Creative Writing from Brunel University London. She mainlines poetry, short fiction, and screenwriting, with her works often exploring themes of relationships, mental health, history, mythology, and pop culture. She has been published in various literary zines, pamphlets, and anthologies since 2010, and currently works as a copywriter in advertising. When she isn’t busy wrestling her muses, she can be found spending her time living a sedentary life similar to that of a cat: eating, limited socializing, and succumbing to bouts of lethargy when caught in warm patches of sunlight).