UK Pavilion, World expo 2025

As part of my CHASE Placement, I worked with Immersive International as the Music & Audio Content Editor for the UK Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan (13 April – 13 October 2025). The UK Pavilion’s exhibition, ‘Come Build the Future’ is an immersive, bilingual (Japanese & English) experience guided by the UK pavilion mascot PIX - taking visitors on a journey through the UK’s past, present, and future. In this role, I contributed to the development of the composition and sound design for this 20-minute experience, working closely with the Immersive International team, composer Benedic Lamdin and sound designer Simon Little. I also worked on editing the Voice Over and Audio Description, in which I had the opportunity to meet with accessibility consultants to help create an inclusive sonic experience.

This opportunity came about through my direct approach to Immersive International with a proposal to contribute to this specific project. I was particularly interested in this project, as its context aligned closely with my practice-based PhD research. My research explores the concept of Spatial Timbre as an effective tool for immersive audio and sound design – this is a term first introduced at the Steel Pavilion during the Osaka World Expo in 1970. With Expo 2025 also taking place in Osaka, I was keen to engage with the event and draw a connection between these two pivotal moments in sonic and architectural history. I am deeply grateful to Immersive International for their openness in accepting my proposal and for so warmly welcoming me into the team.

This role required a specific set of skills, drawing on my background in composition, sound design, music production, and bilingual fluency in English and Japanese. Considering that an estimated 90% of attendees would be Japanese, it was imperative to ensure the experience was culturally attuned and appropriate. At the same time, taking into account the World Expo as an international stage, the sonic experience also needed to appeal to an international audience. In terms of the compositional direction, it was important that it reflected a distinctly British identity while acknowledging the long-standing musical connections between the UK and Japan. My expertise in British and Japanese music, as well as the experience working in the UK and Japanese music scenes allowed me to support the development of an experience that aimed to connect these two cultures and appeal to a diverse audience.

Through this experience, I found it particularly interesting to ask the question: How is 'Britishness' defined, and in what ways might the image projected by the UK differ from how it is perceived in Japan? Contributing to the development of an experience that aimed to be inclusive and resonate with a diverse audience was deeply rewarding.

It was also personally meaningful to be part of a collaborative team over an extended period of approximately 7 months (a combination of both full time and part time periods). Having worked independently as a freelance artist for over 10 years, and with the often solitary nature of PhD research, this experience offered a refreshing sense of creative community.

For other PhD researchers considering a CHASE placement, I cannot recommend this enough. Applying research skills and subject knowledge in a practical context can be incredibly rewarding, gaining new perspectives and unexpected opportunities for learning through actual practice. In my view, a placement begins with having a clear sense of the area or expertise you hope to develop beyond your PhD. It is also important to recognise that research skills are highly transferable and can offer real value to placement hosts in a range of contexts. With that in mind, it is worth taking the initiative to pitch a proposal that highlights your strengths and how they can contribute meaningfully to a project or organisation.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to CHASE, Immersive International and my PhD supervisors Professor John Drever and Professor Holly Rogers at Goldsmiths, University of London for making this opportunity possible.