watson iot hq

IBM’s Watson IoT Headquarters in Munich is where clients come to explore how AI and connected devices can transform their business. Together with Universal Design Studio, Vok Dams and IBM Research, we developed a series of installations and spaces to make the complex world of Watson IoT feel intuitive, physical, and human.

On the ground floor, the lobby sets the tone. Instead of a reception desk, we created a communal table that welcomes visitors with integrated displays and an espresso machine. Glass vitrines showcase Watson IoT stories around the perimeter, with a subtle blend of museum and workspace.

Up on the 20th floor, the experience shifts to deeper engagement. The IoT Plinth presents hundreds of real sensors and actuators from a BMW i8, turning the invisible network of the Internet of Things into something you can walk around and touch. Nearby, a Data Archive visualises the overwhelming volume of data those devices produce: hundreds of printed books represent just 60 seconds of sensor output, brought to life with digital displays and lighting.

At the centre of the space is the Mixed Reality Table, a custom-built presentation tool. When physical props are placed on the table, a vision system recognises them and triggers tailored video content, telling stories, explaining case studies, and sparking conversation.

Afterwards, the room transforms. Screens rise from side tables, curtains part to reveal Munich’s skyline, and the central plinth lowers into a collaborative meeting table that shifts the space from presentation to co-creation with clients.

It’s a space built to bring data down to earth and make transformation tangible.