Anton Kononov

Transforming ambitious visions into landmark experiences.
From World Expos to future cities, I deliver the technically unprecedented at global scale.

World Expos & National Pavilions Future Cities & Cultural Districts Large-Scale Projection & Media AI-Enhanced Experience Design
Anton Kononov
25+
Years Experience
50M+
Global Reach
$500B+
Initiative Scale
200+
Specialists Led

Clients and institutions

Selected clients from large scale projects I’ve contributed to, delivered with Immersive International and partner studios.

Ready to create something extraordinary?

Let's Talk

Showreel

Experience the journey through immersive storytelling and creative innovation.

Selected Projects

Defining projects I have helped shape at the frontier of experiential design, delivered with Immersive International and partner teams.

Expo 2020 Dubai - Mobility Pavilion
Dubai, UAE • 2019-2021

Alif - The Mobility Pavilion - Expo 2020

Co-led artistic, creative, and creative technology direction for the largest pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, designed by Foster + Partners and delivered with Immersive International. Transformed a six month World Expo showcase into a permanent cultural landmark, delivering immersive experiences across 150 screens and holographic displays to over 7 million visitors.

World Expo 7M+ Visitors Permanent Museum
ROARR - Victoria Falls Live Project
Zimbabwe/Zambia • May 2025

ROARR - Victoria Falls Live Project

Africa's first mist projected holographic show. Spanning 6,500 square metres across Victoria Falls' natural mist, this Guinness World Record attempt transforms one of the Seven Wonders into a living canvas for conservation storytelling, developed with Immersive International and regional partners.

Guinness World Record 6,500 sq metres Conservation
NEOM Cultural Development
Saudi Arabia • 2022-Present

NEOM Cultural Development

Defining experiential frameworks for The Line's cultural districts. Embedded for 3+ years as a creative lead with Immersive International, developing entertainment strategies for NEOM's future city and helping shape how 9 million residents will experience culture in a 170 km linear metropolis.

$500B Initiative Cultural Destinations Future City
UK Pavilion - Expo 2025 Osaka
Osaka, Japan • 2024-2025

UK Pavilion - Expo 2025 Osaka

Leading narrative and AI enhanced creative systems as part of Immersive International's creative leadership team for the UK's first content driven pavilion. A 20 minute immersive journey that rethinks how nations present innovation, celebrating British creativity through cutting edge experiential design.

World Expo 1M+ Visitors Creative Direction
Universal Sphere
Philadelphia, USA • 2018-2019

Universal Sphere

Co created with Steven Spielberg, Foster + Partners, and Immersive International. A pioneering 360 degree shared experience at Comcast HQ, demonstrating how mass audiences can experience VR together without individual headsets.

Steven Spielberg Foster + Partners Shared VR
Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
Washington DC, USA • 2018-2020

Smithsonian Air & Space

Contributing experiential strategy with Immersive International to the 1 billion dollar transformation of the world's second most visited museum. Reimagining how 20+ galleries engage visitors through immersive storytelling and interactive technology.

Museum Innovation 20+ Galleries $1B Revitalization

About

I turn ambitious ideas into real world experiences.

With 25 years at the forefront of immersive entertainment, I have led concept to completion delivery on major cultural, governmental, and brand initiatives. From early live shows to world expos, I turn complexity into clarity, guiding international teams to deliver experiences that move people and shift what feels possible.

As an Executive Art Director and Chief Creative Technologist serving global clients from my base in South Africa, I translate abstract ideas into immersive, resonant journeys by combining creative direction, experience design, and advanced media systems. I solve creative problems with precision and technical challenges with imagination.

I build and lead international teams by aligning diverse creative and technical minds, from spatial designers and animators to AI developers and media engineers, under a clear shared vision. Every project is designed to resonate, to simplify complexity, and to leave a lasting legacy.

Most of the large scale projects featured here were created in collaboration with Immersive International, where I serve as Executive Art Director, and are shown to reflect my personal role in those studio led collaborations.

Awards

  • Pending Victoria Falls "Mosi Oa Tunya" night experience – Pending Guinness World Record application for largest mist projection installation
  • 2024 SXBA Digital Art Competition, Shenzhen – "Most Business Potential" recognition for Immersive International studio portfolio
  • 2022 Alif, The Mobility Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai – International Design Awards Bronze (Architecture / Lighting) with additional darc awards Structures (High Budget) recognition

Professional Bodies

The One Club for Creativity ACM SIGGRAPH AAAI – Assoc. for the Advancement of AI Business & Arts South Africa Association for Visual Arts (SA) South African AI Association

Press

Media coverage and industry recognition for collaborative projects delivered with Immersive International and partner teams.

Design Week
UK Pavilion
Design Week • April 2025

"Immersive International unveil the UK's first story-led pavilion at Expo 2025"

The UK's first story-led pavilion showcases spatial storytelling and immersive experiences that redefine national representation at world expos.

Blooloop
UK Pavilion
Blooloop • April 16, 2025

"ES Global and WOO architects deliver fully modular structure for UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka"

Sustainable, reusable modular structure featuring parametric design and dynamic lighting that showcases British innovation and creativity on the world stage.

Dezeen
UK Pavilion
Dezeen • April 15, 2025

"UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka by Woo Architects"

Sustainable, demountable building design featuring spatial storytelling and immersive experiences that showcase British creativity and innovation.

Gulf Daily News
Mobility Pavilion
Gulf Daily News • October 28, 2021

"Immersive unveils process behind the Mobility Pavilion"

Three-year project creating visual and interactive content for Alif - The Mobility Pavilion, featuring 227.7 million pixels across 150 screens and world-first AI workflow technology.

ArchDaily
Universal Sphere
ArchDaily • June 26, 2019

"Foster + Partners, Steven Spielberg, and Immersive Team Up for Universal Sphere"

A 360-degree dome installation offering shared VR experience, demonstrating the future of cinema through cutting-edge design and technology.

Core Expertise

Experiential Innovation &
Technology

  • Large-scale projection mapping and
    holographic display technologies
  • AI-enhanced creative
    pipeline development
  • Real-time interactive
    system design
  • Environmental-scale
    media integration
  • Biometric and responsive
    experience design
  • Patent-pending
    experiential technologies

Creative &
Project Leadership

  • Executive creative direction
    at global scale
  • Multi-stakeholder alignment
    and diplomacy
  • Cross-cultural team
    orchestration (200+ specialists)
  • Concept-to-completion
    project delivery
  • Strategic narrative and
    thematic development
  • Crisis management and
    rapid problem-solving

Cultural &
Commercial Impact

  • National identity and
    pavilion creation
  • Tourism-driving
    experience design
  • Future city experiential
    strategies
  • Brand transformation
    through experience
  • Museum and cultural
    institution innovation
  • ROI-focused creative
    solutions

Contact

LOCATION:
Global