We are currently supporting two exciting pilot projects developed through the CreaTech Frontiers initiative, where freelancers and creative practitioners have received seed funding to explore and prototype new creative technology ideas.
Led across the West Midlands, CreaTech Frontiers supports creative businesses through expert guidance on growth, investment, intellectual property, and commercialisation. The programme provides business support, thematic workshops, mentoring, and access to R&D opportunities to help creative innovators develop and test new ideas.
The initiative also invests in future talent through paid internships and funded PhD opportunities, while delivering £1.8 million in R&D funding for regional SMEs through grants ranging from £5,000 to £50,000. Activity is delivered in partnership with Digital Catapult and other collaborators, organised around key research themes including immersive technologies, live performance, gaming, AI, screen industries, visual arts, and broader creative technology research.
As part of this wider ecosystem, we are supporting two pilot projects that have developed early-stage MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) and are now looking for volunteers to help test and provide feedback on their prototypes.
1. The Big Family Day Out
The Big Family Day Out Pilot Testing
This project explores a new virtual family experience designed to encourage playful interaction, engagement, and shared participation across generations. The prototype investigates how digital and immersive experiences can support meaningful family interaction through accessible and engaging design approaches.
The team is currently inviting volunteers to try the experience and share feedback to help inform future development.
2. StoryDrop
StoryDrop is a browser-based digital reading platform developed by creator John Sears through the AHRC-funded CreaTech Frontiers programme. The platform explores how light game mechanics such as collectibles, coins, interactive questions, and progress feedback can support more engaging and interactive reading experiences.
The pilot study is currently seeking volunteers to test the platform and provide feedback on usability, engagement, and the overall reading experience.
These pilots represent the type of experimental and practice-based innovation that initiatives such as CreaTech Frontiers aim to support, helping creative practitioners explore new ideas through rapid prototyping, research, and community testing.
Sylvester Arnab 