Jessica Brillhart •  Immersive Designer

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I am an

Immersive Designer

Jessica Brillhart

Presented by society for science

MY PATH

How I became a filmmaker, innovator, and immersive designer.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

  • My Parents

    My parents come from very different backgrounds and I carry each of their cultures and perspectives within me.

  • "Jessica's Cat"

    My family had a Macintosh computer at an early age, and my dad was a novice programmer. He programmed a game called “Jessica’s Cat” that opened up that world for me.

  • Computer Games

    A couple of games growing up – first Cosmic Osmo and then Myst – had a really big impact on me.

  • Film School

    Studying film at NYU helped guide my path into immersive design. I was very drawn to the editing process and the creativity that is required in production.

  • 360º Film

    When I first time the footage of engineers interacting with a 360º camera from the perspective of the lens, it showed my how impactful technology could be when it’s designed around human experience.

There wasn’t a rulebook for what I wanted to do.

I was always interested in a lot of different things. If I’d listened to some of the people around me and chose a more conventional path, I would have missed out on building a career that was shaped around me and the things I care about. It wasn’t always easy, but if you feel a pull to create a life that you don’t have any specific models for, go for it. You could become the model for someone else.

Major Milestones

Discovering “iMovie”

My dad introduced me to “iMovie”, where I learned how to move clips around, and it blew my mind. I became really interested in editing and would try to track down books to teach myself tools like Final Cut, so I could learn how to bring all the pieces together to tell a story.

Introduction to Virtual Reality

I love programming and figuring things out, but I’m not a programmer or an engineer. So when I got an email from an engineer asking if I wanted to take on a project with an immersive technology team, I thought it was a mistake. It wasn’t, and that became my introduction to the world of virtual reality.

Becoming Director of the MXR Lab

I was always interested in understanding how to make the most of the technologies I was using, so I was excited to be invited to become the Director of the Mixed Reality (MXR) Lab at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies. It was an opportunity to apply a research lens to my work.

Things I learned

along the way:

  • Make time to think & imagine.

    Many fields benefit from letting your mind roam freely. Inspiration and insight can come from unexpected places, and if you never take time to explore, you may miss opportunities to stumble across something great. I realized early on how important it is to read about topics that interest you, interact with art, or simply put time aside to let your brain do its thing.

  • Find your fit.

    It took some time for me to carve out a path that made sense, but that’s why it’s important to try a bunch of things until something starts to sing for you or call to you. It’s worth looking for the people you feel aligned with, the work you’re really good at, and the goal that keeps you going.

  • Some of the most exciting careers don't exist yet.

    It’s a great time to be part of shaping something new, but you have to let yourself be a little vulnerable. When I first got started in virtual reality filmmaking, I didn’t know what I was doing – no one did. You have to be willing to put yourself out there and to fail a few times along the way.

Looking for teacher resources?

PHOTOGRAPHER: Tandem Photo • Illustrator: Eira Gemanil

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