Overview

Microsoft and electronic artist Matthew Dear launched DELQA, a groundbreaking installation at New York’s New Museum. Developed with creative agency Listen and powered by Microsoft’s Kinect technology, the project invited audiences to literally step inside Dear’s music. As visitors moved through the reactive environment, sound and space shifted in real time — blurring the line between artist and audience and pioneering a new form of interactive brand storytelling.

Our Role

OTHR LABS (then under a previous production banner) was commissioned to film and produce the documentary coverage of DELQA. Over a week on site, we captured the creative process from build to debut:

• Documentary-style video production for Microsoft + Listen

• Coverage of installation build, rehearsals, and opening night at the New Museum

• Exclusive interviews with Matthew Dear, Steve Milton, The Principals, Yotam Mann, and other creators

• Full edit, color, sound, and delivery of campaign film for Microsoft channels (112K+ YouTube views)

Who Featured in the Campaign

• Matthew Dear (Electronic Artist)
  Acclaimed musician, DJ, and producer, known for pushing the boundaries of electronic music and performance.

• Steve Milton (Co-Founder, Listen)
  Creative director and strategist, leading the agency’s collaboration with Microsoft to merge technology and music.

• The Principals (Design Studio)
  Brooklyn-based architects and designers specializing in immersive environments and interactive installations, with Whitney as a key creative force in DELQA’s spatial design.

• Charlie Whitney (Creative Technologist, BUCK NY)
  Brooklyn-based creative technologist specializing in interactive, experiential, and AR-driven design, contributing to DELQA’s immersive environment.

• Yotam Mann (Technologist & Sound Artist)
  Creative coder and musician, bridging software and sound to shape DELQA’s responsive system.

• Dave & Gabe (Interactive Artists)
  Installation and sound duo integrating light, architecture, and audio to create reactive, multi-sensory environments.

• Microsoft Kinect Team (Technology Partner)
  Engineers and developers who adapted Kinect’s motion-sensing technology into a creative tool for live, interactive performance.

Recognition & Impact

DELQA became a touchstone for experiential brand activations, repositioning Microsoft’s Kinect as a tool for creativity rather than gaming. The project earned international recognition, including three Cannes Lions:

• Gold — Sound Design

• Silver — Spatial Brand Installation

• Silver — Experience & Digital Installations / Events

The installation helped set a benchmark for how brands could merge art, technology, and audience participation — cementing Microsoft’s role in the future of interactive storytelling.