XR designer & producer
CV
_ Summary
Renia Papathanasiou is sound engineer and XR designer, developer and producer. She completed her studies at the Department of Music Technology and Acoustics of the Hellenic Mediterranean University in Rethymno, Crete and she holds a Master of Arts in "Art, virtual reality and multi-user systems of artistic expression" (a collaboration between the Athens School of Fine Arts and the department of Arts and Technologies of the Image of the Paris 8 University).
She has worked as a music teacher as well as an event manager and senior manager in fields related to the music industry in Athens and Crete. Since 2013 her research concentrates in extended reality systems and artistic interactive installations as well as in the involvement of extended reality systems in education especially addressed to special-needs populations via ludic environments.
Her individual and team works have been presented in several conferences and festivals, including the IEEE VR2015 in Arles, the Digital Storytelling in Times of Crisis in Athens, the International Conference: The Future of Education, 5th Edition (2015) in Florence-Italy, Festival Miden in Kalamata, the 5th International eLife Dual Congress in Greece, the Invisible Cities Conference (University of Athens, Communication and Media Department) in Athens, the exhibition “Dream Minds in Virtual Bodies” at the metamatic Taf gallery in Athens, in Layer One Conference Greece 2018 etc.
Since 2016 she works also as a tutor in several educational seminars on design and creation of immersive interactive experiences using XR technologies and game development, in collaboration with the Onassis Foundation, Panteion University and Space Under and since 2018 she co-organizes the Global Game Jam Athens.
She is the co-founder and Managing Director of ViRA | Virtual Reality Applications, a company founded in 2016 based in Greece that focuses on the design and development of XR applications and game development.
Since 2019 works in Pausilypon Films and Documatism as a project manager focusing mainly on documentary films and installations.
Since 2020 she is also part of the Studio Bahia orgnanisation, whose mission is making therapy accessible so we can address mental health crises, from epidemics of anxiety and depression to conditions caused by violence and trauma by designing and developing accessible XR applications.
Currently she is a PhD Candidate at the School of Film of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
_ Work Experience
2020-today
Documatism AMKE
Project manager
2019-today
Studio Bahia Immersive Lab (Non-Profit Organization)
XR Designer & Developer
2018-today
Pausilypon Films
Project Manager and coordinator for the creation of the interactive documentary platform "Meeting with Remarkable People" by Menelaos Karamaghiolis.
2018-today
Global Game Jam [Athens]
Event Manager / Co-Organizer
2016-today
ViRA | Virtual Reality Applications
Co-Founder / Co-Owner / Managing Director / XR Designer & Developer / Project Manager
2015 (March)
didascalie.net - Paris, France
Motion Capture & Unity3D character animation for the project “ParOral”
2015 (January)
CreaTic Atelier : “Du geste capté au geste d'interactivité numérique”, Université Paris 8 – Paris, France
Motion Capture & Unity3D coding (c#) for the project “Liaison Renversée”
201 4(July)
NCSR "DEMOKRITOS" - Athens, Greece
Special Effects in Unity3D and Sound design for the research project "iRescue"
Internship for M1
01/09/2001 – 30/09/2014
Filomusos Music School – Rethymnon, Greece
Event manager, graphic designer, DVD and CD production
05/01/2009 – 30/09/2014
CP Events - Event planning – Athens, Greece
Event manager/graphic designer
01/08/2011 - 07/12/2012
AEPI S.A. – Athens, Greece
Personal Assistant to General Manager
01/02/2012 - 07/12/2012
OPUS L.L.C. – Athens, Greece
Network sales manager & trainer, Major customers’ manager, banking, patent applications
01/10/2010 - 31/07/2011
AEPI S.A. – Athens, Greece
Major customers’ manager at Public Performance Department
07/04/2010 - 30/09/2010
AEPI S.A. – Athens, Greece
Assistant at Concert Department
07/09/2009 - 07/03/2010
AEPI S.A. – Athens, Greece
Final Internship for the Bsc at Concert Department, Legal support Department and Members Department
05/08/2004 - 31/03/2009
Häagen Dazs Rethymnon, Greece
Shop Manager
01/09/2001 - 30/06/2009
Filomuso Music School Rethymnon, Greece
Secretary – Account manager
_ Teaching experience | tutor
2019 (June - July)
The Cyprus Institute
VR Applications design & development
2018 (June )
Panteion University
"Developement of digital games" short training seminar / Topic: Interactive Installations
2018 (February)
Space Under
VR Applications design & development / Sound design
2017 (December)
Onassis Stegi
"Sci-Fi Game Development" - Game design & development / Sound design
2017 (November)
Space Under
VR Applications design & development / Sound design
2017 (March)
Onassis Stegi
"Retro Gaming" - Game design & development / Sound design
2016 (October - November)
Space Under
Enter the immersion | VR
VR Applications design & development / Sound design
2016 (April - May)
Space Under
Create the Imagery edition II. Game Development & Interactive Virtual Environments
VR Applications - Game design & development / Sound design
2015-2016 (December - January)
Space Under
Create the Imagery. Game Development & Interactive Virtual Environments
VR Applications - Game design & development / Sound design
2017-2009 (December - January)
Filomousos Music School, Rethymnon - Crete
Curator of the School of Advanced Theory (Harmony)
_ Publications
Patsaki I, Karatzanos E, Tzoumi D, Despoti A, Leventakis N, Roussou G, Dimitriadi N, Papathanasiou A, Nanas
S “Promoting physical recovery in neurological diseases through immersive virtual reality: a systematic review” (ePoster (PO)), World Physiotherapy Congress 2021 online
A. Despoti, L. Karatzanos, D. Tzoumi, I. Patsaki, N. Leventakis, N. Dimitriadi, A. Papathanasiou, S. Nanas “Immersive Virtual Reality in Cognitive Rehabilitation: A systematic Review” (ePoster (PO)), INS 2021 International Neuropsycology Society, San Diego 2021
Monograph: «Création d’un environnement ludique, immersif, interactif, virtuel et sonore pour les sourds / Creating a ludic, immersive, interactive, virtual and acoustic environment for the deaf», Université Paris 8 (2015)
A.Papathanasiou, M.Santorineos, S.Zoi “Constructing a ludic and acoustic environment for the deaf; the technology as a tool in music education of the deaf”, International Conference: The Future of Education, 5th Edition (2015) - Florence, Italy
M.Santorineos, S.Zoi, N.Dimitradi, T.Diamantopoulos, J.Bardakos, C.Chrisanthopoulou, I.Mavridou, A.Papathanasiou, M.Velaora, A.Meli, N.Papadopoulos “Επιλογή in crisis” (Research Demos category), VR2015 IEEE Virtual Reality Conference (2015) – Arles, Camargue, Provence, France
M.Santorineos, S.Zoi, N.Dimitradi, J.Bardakos, A.Papathanasiou, M.Velaora, V.Tselepidou “From the monologue of mass media to the dialogue of new media in information society. The interactive narrative of digital games as a case of study of crisis”, International Digital Storytelling Conference (2014) – Athens, Greece
M.Santorineos, S.Zoi, N.Dimitradi, T.Diamantopoulos, J.Bardakos, C.Chrisanthopoulou, I.Mavridou,
A.Papathanasiou, M.Velaora, A.Meli, N.Papadopoulos, V.Tselepidou, VR Project installation “Επι-λογή in Crisis”, International Digital Storytelling Conference (2014) – Athens, Greece
_ Group exhibitions
2018
Eye' Walk Digital Festival
"Roes" VR Interactive installation
2016
TAF (The Art Foundation)
"Dream Minds in Virtual Bodies" exhibition
Multiple VR interactive installations
Curators: ViRA Virtual Reality Applications & Andriana Daouti
2016
81st TIF
"Enter the Game" exhibition
“Επιλογή (Epilogi) in Crisis” team work
2016
Kinono.1, Tinos
“Επιλογή (Epilogi) in Crisis” team work
2016
5th International eLife Dual Congress | Lake Plastiras, Greece
“Επιλογή (Epilogi) in Crisis” team work / Research Demo
2014 & 2016
"OPEN DOORS / PORTES OUVERTES", Athens School of Fine Arts
“Επιλογή (Epilogi) in Crisis” team work
2016
Istituto Italiano di Cultura - Atene
"In the visible city" VR Interactive installation - team work based on "Invisible cities" by Italo Calvino
2015
Lumen Online Gallery
“Επιλογή (Epilogi) in Crisis” team work
2015
VR2015 IEEE Virtual Reality Conference Arles, Camargue, Provence, France
“Επιλογή (Epilogi) in Crisis” team work (Research Demo)
2014
FESTIVAL MIDEN
“Επιλογή (Epilogi) in Crisis” team work
2014
Hellenic American Union
International Conference: Storytelling in time of crisis, Athens
“Επιλογή (Epilogi) in Crisis” team work
2012
MECAL BCN Festival
"Same as usual" stop motion pixilation animation - short film, personal project
2009
Antiwar Festival of Rethymno 2009
"Kitazo tin Irini" b&w short film, personal project
2005
1st Educational Film Festival
"Sihna Roto" Oktava, Music Video Clip, team project
_ Education
PhD Candidate at the School of Film of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (12/2020 - present)
M.A. “Art, Virtual Reality & Multi-user systems of artistic expression”, 2015 (two-year full time master program)
Athens School of Fine Arts, Department of Fine Arts & Paris-8, Department of Art and Technology of the Image
Collaborating institutions:
Technological, Educational Institute of Athens, Department of Informatics
Greek-French Master in collaboration with Limoges University
N.T.U.A., School of Architecture
N.C.S.R. Demokritos, Institute of Informatics and Telecommunications
THESIS: «Création d’un environnement ludique, immersif, interactif, virtuel et sonore pour les sourds»
Training Program: “Music & Movement Education for children” Annual full time educational program, 2014
Music School “Opera”, Athens
BASc “Music Technology and acoustics engineering”, 2012
Technological, Educational Institute of Crete, Rethymnon Branch
Department of Music Technology & Acoustics
THESIS: «Creation of a prototype audiovisual play, based on the stop motion pixilation animation technique»
Deegre in Advanced Music Theory, 2004
Music School “Filomuso”, Rethymnon, Crete
Major: Harmony
_ Attended seminars & conferences
November 2015 – June 2015 – Paris, France
Surdité et langue des signes : analyseurs politiques, philosophiques et sociolinguistiques. EHESS (Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales)
8-10 May 2014 – Athens, Greece International Digital Storytelling Conference “Digital Storytelling in time of Crisis”
Organized by: National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Lab. of New Technologies in Communication, Education & Mass Media, the University Research Institute of Applied communication and the Hellenic American Union
28 May 2013 – Athens, Greece
Workshop on "Child and digital media: from the game and networking to addiction and bullying"
Organized by: University Research Institute of Applied Communication, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
Moderator: Mr. Michalis Meimaris
9-12 May 2013 – Athens, Greece
Seminar: Carl Orff - Music and Education: “The children's choir and the Elementary Music Composition”
Moderators: Professors Christiane Wieblitz, Ernst Wieblitz (Mozarteum University, Munich) Organized by: Moraitis School
6-7 April 2013 - Athens, Greece
Workshop (16 teaching hours)
“Exploring the beneficial effects of sound”
Organized by: Greek Research Institute of sound, music and speech under the auspices of the Ministries of Education & Religion, Culture & Sports
27-28 September 2004 - Thessaloniki, Greece
International Conference of Acoustics “Acoustic
2004” Organized by: Greek Institute of Acoustics
EL.IN.A
June 2004 - Rethymno, Greece
Seminar: “The style and the characteristics of Cretan music”
Organized by: Prefecture of Rethymnon / Technological, Educational Institute of Crete, Rethymnon
Branch, Department of Music Technology & Acoustics / Folklife, music and dance association Arkadi / Association on historical & folklore studies in Rethymnon
2-6 July 2001 - Lefkada, Greece
Seminar: "Computer Assisted Composition)”
Moderator: A. Georgakis - Ionian University
April 2001 / June 2001 - Rethymnon, Greece
Seminar: “Recording and editing electroacoustic music"
Moderator - Laboratory Supervisor: Dimitris Kamarotos
Organized by: Technological, Educational Institute of Crete | Rethymnon Branch, Department of Music Technology & Acoustics