Accenture named founding member of Disney’s innovation hub StudioLAB
Accenture has been named founding member and innovation partner of StudioLAB, an initiative helmed by Walt Disney Studios dedicated to reimagining, designing and prototyping entertainment experiences and production capabilities of the future.
According to Disney, Accenture Interactive and its design and innovation unit Fjord will play a lead role in helping to establish StudioLAB, as well as define and develop “cutting-edge entertainment technology.” Initial areas of focus include immersive entertainment, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, the future of movie production, and next-generation cinematic platforms.
StudioLAB will be located on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California. According to Disney, the lab has been in development for the past year.
“Accenture Interactive is thrilled to collaborate with the imaginative minds at The Walt Disney Studios on entertainment R&D to reimagine how people experience storytelling,” said Baiju Shah, chief strategist for Accenture Interactive and global lead of Fjord, in a statement. “Our partnership demonstrates the true purpose of Accenture Interactive – to create truly remarkable experiences. Accenture is uniquely positioned to bring together the full set of diverse skills – from strategy, design and technology innovation, across emerging technologies like immersive entertainment, artificial intelligence, and IoT -- needed to run a first-class innovation lab and deliver the next generation of entertainment experiences.”
Alice Taylor serves as director of StudioLAB, a position she took on when Disney acquired her UK-based startup MakieLab, which 3D printed and sold custom dolls. According to a Facebook post from February of last year, Disney acquired MakieLab’s “technology and platform.”