What is the Transmedia Zone?
So, you’ve probably read our organizational bio. We are Ryerson’s storytelling and media innovation incubator. We support projects and startups that are pushing the boundaries of media and storytelling in sometimes surprising and always exciting new directions. To help you learn a little more about us, here are five things the Transmedia Zone is not!
1. We are not a solitary animal.
Our co-working space is a mecca for the cross-pollination of brilliant insights. Our open and inclusive environment encourages teams to learn from each other. Sometimes the best ideas come from outside of our comfort zones. We are champions of the kind of bold, interdisciplinary partnerships and collaborations that might make others weary.
2. We are not behind the times.
We are on the cutting edge of research and practice in the media and storytelling sphere. We provide access to, and training on, state-of-the art equipment. We are committed to being a research and development centre of excellence for the wider storytelling community. Our incubation of risky and novel projects means that we are intimately connected with new trends, insights, technologies and advancements. We are on the vanguard of AR and VR, podcasts and music, web series and algorithms, and transmedia formats that cross platforms.
3. We do not punish failure!
Quite the contrary, we encourage our teams to fail fast! We are firm believers in the power of design thinking, which is a user-centred approach to problem solving that adopts a rapid experimentation and validation cycle. We advocate for this process of relentless ideation, iteration, and user feedback. If it’s broke, we find out fast and adapt. This means that our solutions are tested, and made with real humans in mind.
4. We are not blind to talent.
Our mission is to develop emerging startups, artists, students, and researchers in the Ryerson community and beyond. And boy, do we know how to pick ‘em! Our teams have landed television series on major broadcast networks, secured funding, and won prestigious awards and domestic and international competitions. We are fierce supporters of our talent and work tirelessly to ensure every Transmedia Zone member has the resources they need to succeed. If we don’t have it in-house, we’ll find it. Chances are the capability rests in our rich network of industry leaders.
5. We are not a clique.
We are passionate advocates of diversity and the incubation of new voices. We aim to empower those whose stories, projects and ideas may have been overlooked because of elements beyond their control. Take a look at our core team. We look a little different. It’s mainly women, and we’re proud of that. We have a powerful support system of champions (both female, and non) who feel the same way, and we are so thankful for that.
All in all, we think we’re pretty cool and hope you do too.
