Paris, October 29th, 2024

Cosmic Shelter is an innovative creative studio based in Paris, specializing in 3D interactive experiences that seamlessly blend digital and physical realms. With a commitment to measurable impact, they design omnichannel strategies that captivate audiences and drive tangible business outcomes. Their talented team combines technical expertise with creative problem-solving, ensuring that every project not only looks stunning but also delivers real value.

Luc Miramont is the Creative Director of Cosmic Shelter. In an interview with TIA, he shared insights about the studio’s unique approach to collaboration and the significance of teamwork in the creative process. He also discussed their passion for exploring new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and how this influences their work in creating meaningful experiences that resonate with clients and communities alike.

Thank you for joining us, Luc. To start, could you share where you’re currently based and what you love most about your city?

Hi, I’m currently based in Paris, a city I love for its constant energy. You have access to everything 24/7, and of course, I love it for all the opportunities it offers. If I had to pick one place in particular, as a fan of Japanese food, it would be KOKO Bistro on the Canal Saint-Martin, where you can enjoy incredible maki rolls.

For those unfamiliar with your journey, can you give us a brief overview of your career and how you came to your current role at Cosmic Shelter?

I studied at Gobelins, the French School of Image in Paris, for 5 years. During that time, I had the opportunity to work as an apprentice in several companies. I started as a Merchandising Designer at L’Oreal, then worked as an Assistant to the Art Director at Samsung in the Heaven Agency, and completed my apprenticeship as an Art Director at a small studio called Swipe Back.

In my last year at Swipe Back, I realized I wanted to create something on my own with a few people I knew at the time. That’s when I met Damien Hurstel, who’s now our CEO, and together with friends from school we founded Cosmic Shelter, where I now work as Co-Founder & Creative Director.

Where do you spend most of your time, and what does a typical day entail?

Every morning at 10 a.m., I meet with the team on Quai de Jemmapes in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. I spend most of my time collaborating with the whole team, —I’m rarely at my desk. My day is shaped by multiple brainstorming sessions with Designers & Developers, as well as concept creation. I also spend a lot of time engaging with clients to co-create concepts and ensure we meet their needs.

What are your main focuses at the moment?

At the moment we are focused on exploring new markets to diversify our client portfolio. It’s exciting to collaborate with new partners, bringing in fresh ideas and concepts, as well as new visual approaches.

Creative direction requires balancing big ideas with practical execution. Can you walk us through your process for developing innovative concepts that also make sense for your clients?

Every time we start a collaboration with a client, it begins with an initial session to explain key basics knowledge about our expertise that are important for the client to be familiar with. We also use this opportunity to showcase all the innovative possibilities we can offer, enriching their perspective when developing their brief.

Afterward, we organize a meeting, which we call the “Listening” session, to discuss their brief and refine it together, if needed. This is a time for exchanging ideas and co-creating initial concepts.

Then I summarize the client’s request with our Executive Producer so that we can begin an internal brainstorming session with the right people in the studio that are inspired by the client typology. This session is one of the most important parts of the process; we not only imagine ideas, but we also go deeper into the technical aspects to ensure we are fully aware of what is feasible while meeting the budget and time constraints.

Once we have developed three concepts, my role is to create a clear presentation, including sketches to illustrate our concepts, along with detailed explanations that demonstrate how we will deliver a tangible return on investment (ROI) and meet the client’s needs. Finally, I go over the presentation with the client.

You mentioned ‘The Maison of All Victories’, one of your biggest projects to date. Could you tell us more about the inspiration behind it and what made it a standout experience?

“The Maison of All Victories” is the digital showcase of the partnership between LVMH and the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The objective was to build an immersive and unifying experience, reflecting both the Group’s authentic commitment and the symbolic significance of this partnership. It was essential to highlight that this partnership is based on a clear synergy: the excellence and expertise in sports meet the excellence and expertise of French craftsmanship. This collaboration embodies shared values such as surpassing oneself, creativity, and team spirit, making it much more than just financial support.

The idea behind The Maison of All Victories was to create a powerful image that shows the unity of the group in service of an event as important as the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Users navigate through several spaces within this house, inspired by Haussmannian architecture:

A standout element is the fusion of interactive 3D elements with traditional content. For example, users can explore detailed 3D models of the French delegation outfits created by Berluti, immersing themselves in the craftsmanship behind the clothes and discovering hidden details. This interactive approach allows users to zoom, rotate, and examine objects from all angles, deeply engaging them in the content.

A minimalist interface complements the 3D visuals while providing essential navigation tools. Consistent navigation across all experiences enhances comfort and confidence, while meticulous accessibility features—such as thoughtful contrast and typography—ensure that visitors with disabilities can navigate through the website.

In four months, we delivered a cohesive and immersive site driven by a commitment to inclusion. We prioritized accessibility from design through development, which allowed us to achieve a 91.7 percent RGAA accessibility grade, proving that complex, visually rich projects can be inclusive.

Working closely with development and design teams is key to your role. How do you foster collaboration to ensure that creative ideas come to life in the most impactful way?

When we are developing concepts for our clients, we always have at least one representative from each of our departments around the table to ensure that every area of expertise is discussed in depth, allowing us to create outstanding concepts from the start. I believe that projects that are both creatively and technically good come from an objective approach. We strive to set aside personal preferences and opinions to determine if a concept works on an objective level.

Innovation seems to be at the heart of what you do. What steps do you take to ensure that each project offers something unique and memorable?

As a team of passionate people, we believe that the most exciting projects are those that present challenges to overcome. Facing the unknown and finding innovative solutions pushes us to imagine and create experiences that truly stand out. When the studio, as an experience creator, is genuinely excited about a project, that excitement translates to the audience as well.

Can you tell us more about the types of experiences you enjoy creating and what makes an experience truly innovative and memorable in your eyes?

We are specialized in creating 3D interactive experiences and content, both digital and physical. Our projects are designed to be lightweight, easy to use, and optimized for the web, while delivering high-quality renders. Beyond just impressive visuals, we focus on crafting meaningful experiences that enhance our clients’ businesses and engage their communities for the long term.

What makes an experience innovative and memorable in our eyes is when it not only engages users through beautiful visuals but also provides a seamless, immersive journey across multiple platforms. We design omnichannel experiences that connect with audiences on the web, through apps, social media, events, retail environments, and more. Our goal is always to surprise and captivate users with innovative experiences they’ve never seen before in their web browsers or across other touchpoints.

What trends do you foresee shaping the creative and interactive industries in the coming year, and how is Cosmic Shelter adapting to them?

The creative and interactive industries are constantly evolving, and several trends will shape the coming years.

One of the strongest is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to personalize experiences and optimize creative processes. At Cosmic Shelter, we are already incorporating AI into our processes and conducting R&D on the topic. In fact, we are currently organizing an internal ‘AI-KATHON’ workshop to develop relevant AI activations for our clients.

Another major trend is the growing importance of omnichannel strategies. Audiences now expect seamless continuity between digital and physical touchpoints. We address this by creating experiences that unfold harmoniously across the web, apps, social media, and physical events, allowing for lasting immersion and engagementweb performance optimization remains crucial. With users demanding fast, smooth, and high-quality experiences, we continue to push the limits of technical optimization to deliver outstanding visuals without compromising speed or accessibility. This constant pursuit of innovation keeps Cosmic Shelter at the forefront of a rapidly evolving industry.

When taking on a new client or project, what are the key factors you consider in selecting the right team members and technical profiles to bring the vision to life?

When taking on a new client or project, we focus on understanding the specific needs and vision of the project. Based on this, we carefully select team members from various departments (3D, UX-UI, Tech, and Project Management) who have the right expertise and a passion for the particular challenges involved. We aim to create a balanced team where each person brings complementary skills to the table, ensuring both technical execution and creative problem-solving.

This approach not only allows us to tailor the project team to the client’s goals, but it also ensures that the team can collaborate effectively to bring fresh and innovative ideas to life. It’s important for us to involve people who are both technically proficient and creatively driven, so that each project gets the full benefit of our studio’s diverse talents.

What do you see as the biggest transformations happening in your field right now?

One of the biggest transformations in our field is the growing demand for measurable impact. It’s no longer enough to create something beautiful that makes the client look good; every creative agency must now demonstrate the return on investment (ROI) it delivers to brands and how it drives business outcomes. While creativity and quality remain at the core of what we do, the focus has shifted toward showing how our work contributes to concrete business objectives, such as increasing engagement, driving conversions, or boosting revenue.

Beyond your professional work, what activities or hobbies help you stay inspired and creative?

I’m also a handball player, and I find that practicing sports helps me stay focused and maintain a strong sense of discipline. It’s a great way to stay energized and sharp for creative work.

Also, drawing has been a passion of mine since childhood. I enjoy studying paintings and art techniques to continually refine my own skills, which keeps me inspired.

How do you manage distractions during intense creative work? Do you have any tips for staying focused when tackling big projects?

At Cosmic Shelter, we believe that creativity thrives in a dynamically and stimulating environment. While it’s important to stay focused, we also recognize that short, meaningful distractions can actually enhance creativity. Our work process is different from more traditional companies—tackling big projects doesn’t mean isolating ourselves or working in silence. In fact, moments of fun and interaction are part of our DNA and contribute to the success of our most important projects.

Lastly, can you share a fun fact or something surprising about yourself that most people wouldn’t know?

A fun fact about me is that I’m colorblind, and I’m actually quite proud of it! It means I always rely on my team to bring the best out of every concept. While I’m good at coming up with ideas that make sense, I know that the final result is always better when the team steps in to perfect it. It’s a constant reminder of how important collaboration is in our creative process.

Thanks Luc!

Learn more about: Cosmic Shelter

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3DDesignInnovationengagementinteractiveexperiencesOmnichannelUserExperience