Designer & Technologist
Squid Game: The Trials
In collaboration with Superfly and Future Colossal as technical partners, we won a pitch by Netflix to create a never before seen, live and interactive gaming experience that brought the Squid Game universe to life for fans and thrill seekers. Six fun filled, interactive games meant players can compete real time with eliminations and rewards. From scenic design, physical computing and tech integration to networking , projection mapping and installation of over a 1000 feet of cables , I contributed to this project from the conceptual ideation phases to its’ execution and launch in Los Angeles, California.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Role: Production Design, Projection Mapping, Infrastructure Planning & Installation
Experience Overview
Their adventure kicked off in the iconic bunk room, where the rules of the game were unveiled. Tension mounted as they prepared to face six thrilling games, each inspired by nostalgic childhood challenges.
Between each game, players navigated immersive transition rooms that acted as gateways to the next challenge. These spaces weren’t just passageways—they wove a gripping narrative brought to life by talented actors and dramatic theatrics. Each moment pulled players deeper into the Squid Game world, where every step felt like part of a high-stakes drama.
The Technology
Each game utilized advanced technologies to amplify interactivity and immersion. For instance, Memory Steps relied on LIDAR sensors to pinpoint players’ precise positions on the LED glass tile floor, ensuring flawless gameplay. The Warships game employed a tiered architecture of radio frequency (RF) and TCP communications to operate wireless game controllers. In Red Light, Green Light, sensor fusion technology added unparalleled accuracy, while Harvest Festival came to life with custom-developed electronics designed specifically for the game. Interactive and dynamic lighting was used across the experience to create varying ambience and emphasize key game moments.
Every technological detail was engineered to heighten the realism, ensuring players felt fully immersed in this one-of-a-kind experience.
INTERACTIVE GAMES: DESIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
Key Contribution: Kiosk design and tech integration
The brief was to be true to the show’s iconic visual and architectural language. We replicated the registration zone in the show with pink kiosks that smartly hid our tech and sensors within the built form. Paired with RTLS barcoded wristbands and scanning sensors, the Registration app swiftly initiated the player’s participation in the games while ensuring a true point of immersion at the very beginning.
Key Contribution: LED tile floor design & planning, LIDAR location strategy and tech integration
The glass tiles floor was made interactive with a network of 10 lidar sensors, the placement of which were decided after careful RnD and spatial studies. I built a custom paramteric tool in Grasshopper to test different locations of Lidars by studying the shadowing that would be caused by every combination of placements.
Key Contribution: Marble Counter design and fabrication
A fun marble run challenge resulted in this simple, almost childish in visual character, marble counter that counted marbles won by players during the game with utmost accuracy. Carefully hidden sensors within the built form helped us achieve the required results! I led the fabrication efforts for the marble counters in house at Future Colossal.
Key Contribution: Wireless Controller design & fabrication, Player boats design & tech integration, Game graphics projection planning & onsite project mapping
The game of Battleships but IRL! This interactive involved design and tech integration for player boats, game controllers and projection planning and mapping for the game graphics. While teams fired missiles at each others’ boats, the environment lights, controllers and game graphcis all reacted to wins and loses.
Key Contribution: Harvest box design and tech integration
We designed our very own version of Operation, Squid Game-ified. The holes were all lined with cap touch sensors and the organs were then counted with sophisticated combination of sensors to award accurate scores to the players.
INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE: TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Key Contribution: Installation Drawings and AV/Network Diagrams package creation
I undertook planning and drafting for the entire network infrastructure for the experience. With over 10 screens, 20 computers, 50 sensors, 120 lights and 2000 ft of running cables, the experience ran smoothly for 200 players participating in the games simultaneously.
PROJECT GALLERY
Squid Game: The Trials recieved interest and attention from audiences and critics alike. Read about what New York Times and LA Times had to say about the experience!