Our History
The Journey to 360° eBooks
Discover the journey behind 360° Alice and our immersive storytelling revolution.
Explore the journey behind the creation of 360° Alice and how we've reimagined storytelling through immersive 360° illustrations.
Every innovation starts with a passion, a spark that ignites a journey. For Istvan Prem, director of the groundbreaking 360° Alice project, that spark was lit many years ago at the University of Oxford, where his fascination with art and technology first began to intertwine. Today, he stands at the forefront of a new era in publishing, where books come to life in a way never seen before. This is the story of how one man’s dream became a reality, reshaping the future of reading.
Istvan Prem’s deep connection to the world of art started in his early years at Oxford, where he studied Fine Art. Even then, his curiosity extended beyond traditional boundaries. Long before 360° illustrations were technically feasible, Istvan was captivated by the concept of immersive environments. His research during his time at Oxford was centered around creating interactive experiences that could blur the line between the viewer and the artwork.
“Oxford University has a unique tradition: a large scale degree show for all graduating art students. I wanted to do something that hadn’t been done before,” Istvan recalls. He spent months designing and building a three-meter-wide spherical projection system from fiberglass, with the help of just one technician. This ambitious project allowed viewers to experience his art in an all-encompassing, 360-degree view. It was an early glimpse of what would later become his life’s work, though at the time, the technology was still in its infancy.
After graduating, Istvan pursued a successful career as a commercial photographer. Yet, the passion for 360° art kept calling him back. “Photography taught me a lot about composition, light, and storytelling,” he says, “but I always felt like there was something missing—a level of immersion that traditional art couldn’t achieve.”
Determined to explore this further, Istvan began to consider how 360° technology could be made into a commercially viable product. He faced a common dilemma: virtual reality required headsets that most people found cumbersome, and transporting a large, spherical installation from one exhibition to another was not a realistic option. The question remained: How do you make 360° experiences accessible to everyday people?
Then came the breakthrough: “I realized there was a bigger problem we could solve. Kids are losing interest in reading, and I thought, what if we could bring books to life in a way that captures their imagination?” This lightbulb moment led to the concept of 360° illustrations embedded directly into books—no VR headset required.
Istvan knew that turning this vision into reality would require significant funding and technical expertise. He entered a prestigious startup competition in the UK, hoping to secure the resources needed. However, the response was simple yet painful: "You need to show us a complete product first, even if it’s just a minimum viable product (MVP)." Without any initial funding, Istvan decided to take a leap of faith and self-fund the development of his first 360° eBook, starting what would become a challenging yet rewarding journey.
“The early days were brutal,” Istvan reflects. “I had to figure out every aspect on my own—costume design, 3D world building, interior settings, character development—all while making sure it worked seamlessly in 360°.” Unlike traditional illustrations, 360° images come with unique distortions that are crucial to getting right, especially for scenes with complex environments or characters close to the virtual camera. “There’s no way to draft a 360° illustration—you have to imagine the entire scene in your mind and then build it, knowing it won’t look like a traditional picture,” he adds.
The production took place in Oxford, a fitting location given that Alice in Wonderland was written there. The magical world Lewis Carroll created was inspired by Oxfordshire's unique atmosphere—the winding pathways, mysterious architecture, and enchanting gardens. “The White Rabbit’s cottage, the whimsical landscapes—these are all reflections of Oxfordshire’s charm,” says Istvan. “We wanted our 360° version to capture that same magic, so doing it here felt like coming full circle.”
Building a 360° book is a complex puzzle involving many layers of expertise. Each aspect required specialized skills: 3D for world design, illustration for character creation, costume design to match the period, and even music production for atmospheric soundscapes. “It is a new medium,” Istvan explains. “There was no roadmap, no template to follow. Every day brought new challenges and discoveries.”
On top of this, the coding of the software was also a major challenge. “There were sleepless nights, endless reworkings, and more than a few moments when I wondered if we would ever get there,” Istvan admits. But after months of dedication and innovation, the first 360° eBook was born. “The pieces finally came together,” he says with a smile. “It’s the most amazing book experience I’ve ever seen, and it’s only the beginning.”
Now that the blueprint is in place, Istvan is ready to bring this new form of storytelling to more classic books and genres. “There is a process that’s repeatable,” he says. “I am excited to see how far 360° illustrations can go.”
If you’re a publisher, author, or creative professional interested in exploring the potential of 360° illustrations, Istvan Prem may be available for consultation and collaboration. With a Master's degree from Oxford and years of experience at the forefront of this new revolution, Istvan is ready to help you transform your stories into immersive experiences.
Get in touch today and be part of the future of storytelling!
