RAW Worlds: Pioneering the Avant-Garde Through Narrative Design

Pioneering the avant-garde and cultivating culture through narrative design, Santiago Ceballos, Dana Shaviv, Luis García Grech, and Orin Torati are paving the way with RAW Worlds, a production company dedicated to speculative worldbuilding. Distinguished alumni of the esteemed Master’s program in Fiction and Entertainment at SCI-Arc, this visionary quartet leads a daring movement that challenges traditional architecture roles and fosters cultural development through their pioneering work.

Directors Santiago and Luis, and Creative Directors Dana and Orin, combine their diverse perspectives and talents to showcase the powerful convergence of imaginative design and compelling narrative. Emboldened by their desire to dream up speculative worlds and the boundless creative potential of virtual space, they founded RAW, a production company specializing in worldbuilding. Their unwavering passion for storytelling and mastery of 3D technology allows them to rapidly create enigmatic and mythical landscapes rivaling industry giants’ production quality.

An integral part of RAW’s creative process is the creation of narrative worlds, a synthesis of design and storytelling. With their versatile backgrounds and experiences as provocateurs and outsiders, the four use this methodology to visually investigate complex concepts and create engaging final products. Creating a strong sense of identity between viewers and the stories they tell is achieved by spurring fresh perspectives and eliciting emotional responses from the viewer.

Diversity is a critical aspect of RAW‘s work. With Santiago, Dana, Luis, and Orin, the group forms a multinational team representing Colombia, Israel, Spain, and Belgium, respectively, enabling them to tackle real-world issues and infuse their stories with cultural richness and authenticity. Their efforts focus on narratives that explore borderless worlds, unexplored territories, and personal journeys encompassing diaspora, seclusion, and heritage.

A fundamental component of RAW’’s operation is its commitment to in-house production using advanced technology. Utilizing emerging animation and 3D technology, visual effects (VFX), and visualization tools, they have developed an effective and efficient process for seamlessly integrating design and production. Through this end-to-end approach, they gain greater creative autonomy and efficiency and are positioned as a comprehensive solution provider for many clients. Whether it be writers and producers, brands, musicians, advertising agencies, or entrepreneurs, RAW stands ready to support its vision.

RAW’s extensive portfolio is filled with remarkably diverse projects, including their notable contribution to the art film “No Evil,” directed by Jennifer Chen and showcased in a prestigious gallery exhibition. Featuring futuristic themes of global geoengineering and mythology, this film displays the company’s expertise as it seamlessly blends imagery of machines with futuristic themes. Their adept utilization of cutting-edge technology and innovative storytelling techniques created an experience that is both visually breathtaking and narratively engaging, capturing the essence of the future machine artifact.

Further exemplifying their imaginative vision and technical prowess, RAW accomplished a remarkable feat with a live immersive performance, leveraging real-time 3D technology. This visually compelling narrative, intricately attuned to sound and movement, demonstrated RAW’s ability to produce the highest quality work. In the seamless integration of technology, storytelling, and audience interaction, RAW was able to highlight the limitless possibilities that are at the core of its creative activities.

Reflecting on their journey, Dana shares a valuable lesson from one of her architecture school professors, who said, “Architects aren’t storytellers.” Nevertheless, this remark galvanized Dana and the rest of the team’s realization that, as architects, they tell stories. Rather than merely creating a physical canvas, they believe that design transforms rational ideas into emotional ones, allowing the audience to relate to them. The fusion of form and narrative transcending conventional boundaries will enable architects to redefine their roles and push the boundaries of creative expression.

The quartet envisions a future where they will continue to innovate and expand the boundaries of their creative capabilities. They aim to create feature films, music videos, and brand experiences that blur the lines between the physical and virtual worlds. Ultimately, the goal is to design their future and bring imaginative visions to life through interdisciplinary collaborations that challenge traditional norms and practices. Santiago, Dana, Luis, and Orin’s expertise in speculative worldbuilding and their focus on inclusivity and proficiency in cutting-edge technologies enable them to shape culture and revolutionize narratives, carving out a significant impact on the creative terrain.

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