Little Island NYC

In short

At SpaceForm, we believe the spaces we create are more than just structures—they are stories that shape the cities of tomorrow. This philosophy drove our collaboration with the visionary Heatherwick Studio to redefine how audiences connect with Little Island NYC, an extraordinary addition to New York’s waterfront.

Client

Heatherwick Studio

Services

UX Design

Completed

May 2022

Brief

Little Island, a ground-breaking public park in the Hudson River, reimagines what urban green spaces can be. However, conveying its transformative impact to a diverse audience—including real estate stakeholders, urban enthusiasts, and the wider public—posed a unique challenge.

How do you tell the story of an innovative, community-centric project like Little Island in a way that resonates across industries and generations?

Our answer: A game.

Approach

A Gamified Experience in Fortnite

SpaceForm created an interactive scavenger hunt within Fortnite, a platform with millions of active users.
Players parachuted into a vibrant, stylized world inspired by Little Island, where they explored key design elements and uncovered its story.
The game highlighted the park’s community impact, innovative use of space, and cultural significance, making complex real estate concepts accessible and engaging.

Bridging the Gap Between the Built Environment & Digital Engagement

Using Unreal Engine 5 and UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite), we built a high-fidelity digital experience that mirrored Little Island’s architectural and environmental features.
The interactive experience provided a fresh perspective on how immersive storytelling can enhance real estate marketing and education.

Engaging Diverse Audiences

Real estate stakeholders explored the potential of gaming as a marketing and engagement tool.
Gamers and urban enthusiasts discovered Little Island’s story in a way that felt organic and fun.
Investors and developers saw first-hand how digital platforms can drive interest in physical real estate projects.

Results

Pioneering a New Era of Real Estate Engagement

Expanded Audience Reach: Real estate professionals, urban planners, and gamers engaged with the Little Island concept through a platform traditionally untapped in the industry.
Immersive Storytelling Success: The project demonstrated the power of interactive media in conveying architectural and cultural narratives.
Technology-Driven Market Expansion: SpaceForm positioned itself as a leader in blending real estate, gaming, and digital storytelling.

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It has been an absolute pleasure working with the SpaceForm team on this creative journey. Our aim was to turn a serious piece of research into a fun and engaging video game. This was a new type of project for the studio, and I am grateful for the expertise and storytelling nous that SpaceForm brought to our partnership. I’m really happy with the end result and am excited to collaborate again in the future.

Kim Megson

Head of Content and Engagement, Heatherwick studio

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