The Virtual Wild

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a nonprofit nature center, and our mission is to create environmental stewards. We have a 1,300-acre park that has trails along the Trinity River, and it goes from city limits to city limits. People can walk in our park trails from Fort Worth to Meridian to Grand Prairie. A trail from Fort Worth to Dallas is to be completed in the next couple of years. 

I manage the program in our nature center, which is built with low environmental impact and a sustainable design. It’s an iconic building in Arlington. We also have enrichment programs for children between 3–5 years old and summer programs that are all based on the environment. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Virtual Wild?

We wanted to have an educational impact on our visitors, so we had a $2.5 million renovation project called the Discovery Room. Virtual Wild helped us with the creative work for this project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Virtual Wild did original creative work for the Discovery Room’s screens that were 10 feet high. The goal was to deliver information about the things people would see in the park and in the forest. The screens also had many games and fun facts. We had a broken and boring exhibit hall, so another part of the renovation was making the space more user-friendly.

We received funding from different people, and we wanted the project to be educational and interactive. Moreover, we didn’t want any anthropomorphic forms in the visuals — everything had to look realistic. Virtual Wild helped us figure that out as they worked on the code, content, visuals, and concepts of the project. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Jay (Founder & Managing Director), and he led the coding tasks. He was behind the efforts of making things appear how we wanted them to. We also worked with Sarah (UI/UX Designer).

How did you come to work with The Virtual Wild?

I searched the internet for providers for a long time for this renovation project. I found a company that did the project's framework, and I found Virtual Wild through that company.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $500,000 on their services. Meanwhile, the whole cost of the renovation project was $2.5 million. 

What is the status of this engagement?

This project lasted from January–July 2018. It was designed for content expansion, but we ran out of funds to continue the project. In the meantime, Virtual Wild is working on another project that I’ve received a grant for. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The project’s success was huge. With Virtual Wild’s involvement, we received lots of publicity for the exhibit hall. We were able to use it as a venue for events, such as business meetings. We received positive feedback, and it became a highlight of our exhibits because children could see images and feed virtual animals on the screens.

How did The Virtual Wild perform from a project management standpoint?

Virtual Wild’s communication was excellent. I worked in the Discovery Room when it was still under construction, and their team was there a lot while explaining everything I needed to know. Whenever I needed them, they were there and aimed to please. Moreover, the project involved 13 different subcontractors, and the Virtual Wild team was patient about having to hurry up and wait. Overall, we weren’t the easiest customers in the world, but they did great. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Virtual Wild team members were creative problem-solvers. I asked them to do a few things that they didn’t do before, and they always figured things out. On top of that, Jay and Sarah were great people to work with, and I loved them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there weren’t any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Get a presentation and a bid from Virtual Wild because they do great work. Moreover, if you tell them what you want, they’ll figure out ways to do it even if they haven’t done it before.