iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I’m hugely proud that with a relatively small amount of money and time across the team, we've created genuinely useful tools and resources that will have nationwide impact for the immersive sector, and help us to advocate for more of the right kind of support for creatives working in immersive.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Alongside the map, today we are launching the Joining the Dots report, which I co-authored. This report uses survey, interview and #immersiveartsuk application data to investigate whether and how the needs of creatives are being met by the UK’s immersive production infrastructure.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Then, using this database, we worked with the excellent team at Pindar Creative to create a map that allows users to find immersive production facilities in the UK by navigating/searching on the map itself and also filtering according to their creative needs and accessibility requirements.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I also designed and distributed a survey for facility providers to share details about who they are and where they can be found, the types of production they support and their accessibility. From this research, I created a comprehensive, UK-wide database of immersive production facilities.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

In the initial stages of the project, I worked with producers of immersive art across the UK to crowdsource knowledge of the facilities that exist, as well as doing detailed internet searches.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

We're asking: 1) what facilities exist and what do they provide 2) what are the needs and ambitions of creatives making immersive art, and 3) what are the challenges and opportunities in connecting immersive production infrastructure with these creative sector needs.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Joining the Dots is a research project looking at the UK’s facilities for immersive production (VR/AR/XR, motion capture, virtual production, spatial audio etc.)

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I’m at #thebigthing – an annual gathering of the UK’s immersive arts community – in Llandudno, presenting on a significant nationwide project I've worked on since February with my UWE Bristol colleagues Verity McIntosh, Amy Densley and Simon Moreton. (Pics from my walk on The Great Orme yesterday!)

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I’m so proud of every single one of our participants. As a group they gelled incredibly well with each other, and I’m excited to see them work together and develop their prototypes (and new ideas) further in the future.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I heard many similar impressions from first-time audiences on Friday, when two of the teams shared their projects with those attending the PM Studio’s First Friday social event.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

In the final showcase, we had people (who’d just played the games for the first time) asking how we could get investors in the room to develop these projects further. They were saying that, even in their current form, they would happily play these games with their friends.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The prototypes they managed to produce were so original and inventive, but also completely functional and engaging experiences. Quite simply the best I’ve seen in that timeframe.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

It isn’t easy to make something that is genuinely fun and compelling in such a short amount of time, but our teams didn’t just pull it out of the bag…they blew us away.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

After spending time getting to know one another and thinking through the theme, we guided the teams through a process of rapid ideation, idea refinement, team-building and finally 2 days for building.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The theme this year was one very close to my heart: video-less games. What does gameplay look like when it blends physical and digital, and doesn’t fit neatly on a screen or tabletop?

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

In August, I was part of the @pmstudiouk.bsky.social team running Make Shift Camp. This was a 5-day game-making camp for early-stage creatives in Bristol who are interested in exploring play with technology and developing creative ideas in collaboration with others.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Whether you’re new to creative writing, want to experiment with new methods, or you’re a seasoned writer, be part of a welcoming group exploring new ways of connecting with the world around us through writing.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

One week today, Wednesday 15th July, writer and poet Bridget Hart and I will be running a place writing workshop at The Studio in Bath, where we’ll be using what3words and a range of interactive and playful methods to inspire us. Sign up here: thestudioinbath.co.uk/events/place...

thestudioinbath.co.uk

Place Writing with Pin the Tale - The Studio

Pin the Tale is a creative writing workshop that brings storytelling and place together through digital mapping. Bath is teeming…

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Digital Geographies Research Group @dgrgrgs.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

🚨 Our Annual Symposium is tomorrow! Join us online from 9:45am for a day exploring the digital geographies of fragility, ending with Professor Margath Walker's keynote, The Fragility of AI. Programme & last-minute registration: digitalgeographiesrg.org/9-july-2026-... #DGRGAnnualSymposium2026

The image shows a bio of Professor Margath Walker. The background is pink with a white border. The title reads DIGITAL GEOGRAPHIES RESEARCH GROUP ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM 2026. On the left is a picture of the Professor with curly hair, black glasses and a beige jumper, smiling at the camera. On the right is a QR code to visit the DGRG website. Her bio reads: Margath Walker is Professor of Geography in the Department of Geographic and Environmental Sciences and School of Urban and Public Affairs at the University of Louisville. Her research focuses on technology, critical social theory and political geography. Her book, Spatializing Marcuse: Critical Theory for Contemporary Times (Bristol University Press) is the first to develop a geographic perspective in relation to the social philosopher, Herbert Marcuse. She has published widely on the geographies of artificial intelligence, borders and belonging and how social theory can explain current political dynamics. She is currently co-editor of the RGS-IBG Book Series. This is followed by a short call to action: "Register and join us online on 9th July 2026 from 9.45am UK time"

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Sharing this again for those in London on Wednesday. what3words is a superb tool for getting your creative writing juices flowing. Join us in this free workshop where we'll have a go at place-based writing using 3-word addresses! #creativewriting #place #psychogeography #what3words #storytelling

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Digital Geographies Research Group @dgrgrgs.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

🏆 The DGRG is pleased to offer a prize to the best undergraduate dissertation in any area of digital geography. The winner will receive £100 and have the opportunity to showcase their work through DGRG channels. Submit your nominations by 22 July 2026. Full submission information below 🔗

rgs.org

Digital Geographies Research Group | Undergraduate dissertation prize

Prize for the best undergraduate dissertation in digital geography showing original research, critical analysis, and/or innovative methodology.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

London people interested in place-based creative writing and storytelling: this free Pin the Tale workshop is coming up on 3rd June as part of the Festival of Storytelling run by @kings-dfi.bsky.social!

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Kate Devlin @drkatedevlin.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Buckle up, buttercup! I'm going to do a thread with all the cool stuff going on in our King's Digital Futures Institute free Festival of Storytelling, taking place in central London on 2-4 July and open to EVERYONE. @kings-dfi.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @kingsartshums.bsky.social

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

With special thanks to @pmstudiouk.bsky.social, where we tested and modified the design of the game over multiple Show & Test sessions. Having the space, time and support to try out early-stage creative ideas in a low-stakes environment is hugely important for projects like this.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

This game wouldn’t have been made without the vision and perseverance of Clayton Planter of Street2Boardroom CIC, as well as the talents of Inigo Hartas, who did an outstanding job with the graphic design (working with an aesthetic that I’ve never seen in a board game before!).

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

This happened last week! Street2Boardroom, a board game I designed and wrote, has had its first commercial print run. I received my own copy and found it incredibly satisfying to be able to physically hold something I’ve made, as most of my creative work is digital!

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RGS-IBG Higher Ed @rgs-ibghe.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Nominations are now open for this year's Society and Research Groups undergraduate dissertation prizes 🏆 Know students who’ve produced outstanding work across different areas of the discipline? Departments can submit nominations by 22 July. Find out more 👇 ow.ly/xM3o50YJYmW

ow.ly

Undergraduate dissertation prizes | RGS

Annual undergraduate dissertation prizes, including the Alfred Steers Prize, awarded by the Society and its Research and Working Groups.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

I don't suppose there's any space in the programme for another workshop/activity? I've been running creative story-writing workshops with my platform Pin the Tale, where people use what3words addresses as prompts for place-based storytelling and pin their writing on a digital map: pinthetale.co.uk

pinthetale.co.uk

pin.the.tale — find stories, share yours!

Connect with stories that shape the world around you!

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The Chinese Room @thechineseroom.co.uk · 30/04/2026

For many of our colleagues across the industry "Kaleidoscope" is already a classic - an excellent book with 100 essays by 100 Narrative experts each offering a distinct perspective on the craft of storytelling in games. www.inklestudios.com/kaleidoscope/ 1/4

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

This Thursday 23rd April 6.30 – 8pm, have a go at creative writing with what3words! I’m running an ONLINE workshop with The Writers’ Block, where we’ll be using the idea of 3-word locations to open the door to memories, imagination and new ways of seeing places. www.tickettailor.com/events/thewr...

tickettailor.com

Buy tickets – Pin the Tale - Online Workshop – Zoom

Pin the Tale - Online Workshop – Zoom, Thu 23 Apr 2026 - Join us for a relaxed and inspiring evening of creative writing, using the idea of three-word locations to spark stories about the places that ...

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

The awards definitely achieve that aim! Thank you for all the voluntary work you put into this. It's fantastic that this initiative exists, and particularly how cross-cultural it is. I definitely come away from it with some fantastic new DH reference points!

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Thank you Claire; that's very kind 😊

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

On that point, one of the real pleasures of being part of @dhawards.bsky.social was learning about all the other brilliant nominees. If you're at all involved/interested in the digital humanities, I strongly recommend having a browse through all the nominated projects: dhawards.org/dhawards2025...

dhawards.org

DH Awards 2025 Results | Digital Humanities Awards

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

This would not have been possible without everyone who kindly voted for us. I feel blessed to be part of networks made up of such interesting, thoughtful people who take the time to engage with work like ours. Thank you.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Pin the Tale, my what3words storytelling game, has won the 'Best Use of Digital Humanities for Fun' award in the annual Digital Humanities Awards!! I'm thrilled, honoured and a little in awe.

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

🚨My what3words storytelling game Pin the Tale has been nominated here for an award! 🚨It's purely determined by public vote, so would be hugely grateful if you could vote for Pin the Tale in the last category of this form (do check out + vote in the other categories too if you can!)

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Dr Holly Nielsen @hollynielsen.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

I had such a brilliant time chatting to @jon.inkle.co and @sagarberoshi.bsky.social about world-building from material details, building plausible deniability into your settings, and how players love to be historians so you may as well embrace it with your narrative design. Give it a listen!

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Pin the Tale is an online game that encourages players to write stories about UK places using their what3words addresses, pinning them to a digital map for others to find: pinthetale.co.uk

pinthetale.co.uk

pin.the.tale — find stories, share yours!

Connect with stories that shape the world around you!

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

How can what3words be used as a tool for creative writing and storytelling? In this article for The Writing Platform, I discuss the trends I have noticed in how people write stories with what3words on Pin the Tale: thewritingplatform.com/2026/03/what...

thewritingplatform.com

What3words as a storytelling technology in Pin the Tale

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States of Precarity @statesofprecarity.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Today we launch States of Precarity in UK HE Geography. Thank you to the 364 colleagues whose experiences shaped this work. Download the report, share widely, and join us in advocating for change. Launch event (1:00-2:30GMT): www.rgs.org/events/upcom... Read report: www.rgs.org/research/hig...

rgs.org

States of precarity in UK Higher Education geography

Findings from a discipline-focused research project exploring the lived realities of precarious academic work within UK Higher Education geography.

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Digital Geographies Research Group @dgrgrgs.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

👋 Now say hi to Jack Lowe (he/him), our Prize Co-ordinator, helping to recognise outstanding research in digital geographies. @jackalowe.bsky.social recommends you check out Pin The Tale (pinthetale.co.uk) and this free mystery game (interment.itch.io/play) to wave Monday goodbye! #DGRGCommittee

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Digital Geographies Research Group @dgrgrgs.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Statement from the Digital Geographies Research Group (RGS-IBG) The Royal Geographical Society’s (RGS-IBG) Digital Geographies Research Group (DGRG) are deeply concerned about the impacts and implications of ongoing crises facing Geography departments in UK Universities. 1/6

digitalgeographiesrg.org

DGRG

A Research Group of the RGS-IBG

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

New Pin the Tale newsletter out today, with details of an event this weekend about mapping unofficial stories of Bristol, and sharing some of the wonderful poetry written during our recent workshops hosted by Watershed: mailchi.mp/9adcda28d944...

mailchi.mp

Mapping unofficial stories

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Pin the Tale will be part of this wonderful event in Sparks on 15th Nov about mapping meaningful landmarks and unofficial place names in central Bristol. Will be old maps galore and plenty of fun, interesting and creative things to do. Drop in any time 11am-5pm and bring fellow Bristolians with you!

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Some feedback from this workshop: “Very inspiring and a great way to get back into writing for me. I loved it” “Really enjoyed the workshop, it was great that it was led with poetry foregrounded and the platform was actually really intuitive” Huge thanks to Bridget for making this happen!

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

We also wrote a collaborative poem about Stonehenge, where we each wrote two lines and then Bridget assembled the piece into its final form. You can read it below, or find it (alongside lots of other poetry/stories written about places all over the UK) on Pin the Tale here: pinthetale.co.uk

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Jack Lowe @jackalowe.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Last Thursday, Bridget Hart and I ran an online version of our Pin the Tale poetry workshop, hosted by @wshed.bsky.social. Deeply inspiring + moving to hear the site-specific poetry our participants wrote in a short space of time. Many of these poems have now been uploaded to the Pin the Tale map.

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