According to Art Tech head Trevor Paulson, students are working with the virtual reality company REM5 to design soda cans for a local company.

“The students are going to work on designing the cans for the soda company, and the artwork going on the can, with the local company using only virtual reality (VR) software,” Paulson said.

“We are going to have an informational meeting with students the second week we come back,” Paulson said. “I’m meeting with the 10 students in with the project, as well as with REM5 and the local soda company.”

Senior Matt Loftus said he believes students will gain valuable skills by participating in the collaboration.

“It is important to further learning with technology, and having VR experience is something that will be very beneficial,” Loftus said. 

According to Paulson, the next step they will take is to come to an agreement about the goals of the project.

“We are going to hash out a business plan and some designs, as well as talk about the profile of what we are creating,” Paulson said.

Paulson said the students will be visiting the soda company to gain inspiration for their project.

“At the end of the month we are going to take a field trip to the soda company to learn a little bit about them, and then decide on the kind of soda we want to make,” Paulson said.

According to Paulson, the students will then use the VR software to design the can, and then the can will be produced.

“It’s a two to six week turn around time, so that would put us into late March to early April for the launch kickoff event for launching the final product,” Paulson said.

Paulson said currently the only holdback is finding times that work for everyone.

“We know all of us here can make it, we know REM5 company can make it, we’re just waiting to see when the soda company can make it,” Paulson said.