As part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Perry’s Trail activation featured an innovative blend of physical and digital experiences, including 17 physical statues and 8 digital avatars of the mascot, Perry. Our role involved the creativity and adaptation of Perry into real-time interactive avatars through motion capture, where Perry would engage participants with physical challenges and fun interactions.
A major highlight of this campaign was the implementation of a naked eye 3D effect on the Birmingham Eye, a large eye-shaped LED screen located at Grand Central station. This installation used advanced 3D rendering techniques to make Perry appear as though he was physically popping out of the screen, offering a visually striking experience for passers-by.
Perry’s Trail was one of the most ambitious interactive activations at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, combining physical installations across the city with cutting-edge real-time digital experiences. ex1t.one’s contribution spanned two distinct but interconnected elements: eight motion-capture digital avatar installations in which the Games mascot, Perry, engaged participants directly, and a landmark, naked-eye 3D installation on the Birmingham Eye LED screen at Grand Central station. Over the seventeen-day event, this activation brought Perry to life in ways beyond traditional mascot appearances, creating genuinely interactive moments for residents and visitors throughout Birmingham during the Games.
Commonwealth Games
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Perry’s Trail: Real-Time Motion Capture Avatars at Birmingham 2022
At the heart of Perry’s Trail were eight digital avatar installations distributed across Birmingham, each bringing Perry to life through real-time motion capture technology. Unlike pre-rendered animations or static displays, these avatars responded dynamically to participants, engaging them in seven distinct motion-captured physical challenges designed to celebrate the spirit of the Commonwealth Games. Each installation created a two-way interaction between Perry and the public. Participants could mirror Perry’s movements, complete physical challenges, and receive virtual selfies through a privacy-compliant QR code system. Selfies were delivered via unique temporary codes that did not store personal data, ensuring full GDPR compliance while maintaining a shareable, social media-friendly output for participants.
Implementing real-time avatar technology within busy public spaces presented significant technical challenges. The system needed to operate reliably in high-traffic environments with variable lighting conditions, unpredictable crowds, and the demanding operational requirements of a major international sporting event. Our team adapted the motion capture and rendering pipeline specifically for these conditions, achieving seamless real-time performance across all eight locations simultaneously.
Naked Eye 3D Installation at Birmingham Eye, Grand Central
The second major component of Perry’s Trail was a naked-eye 3D installation on the Birmingham Eye, the large eye-shaped LED screen located at Grand Central station in the heart of Birmingham city centre. This high-visibility location, passed daily by tens of thousands of commuters, shoppers, and Games visitors, provided the ideal canvas for a landmark visual moment. Using advanced anamorphic 3D rendering techniques, we created an animation of Perry that appeared to physically emerge from the screen surface.
The naked eye 3D effect — which requires no special glasses or devices — creates a powerful illusion of depth and dimensionality that stops audiences in their tracks. For passers-by who unexpectedly discovered the installation, Perry’s apparent breakthrough of the screen’s plane created a memorable, shareable moment that extended the reach of Perry’s Trail far beyond its physical footprint. The technical execution required precise calibration of perspective, depth cues, and motion timing to maintain the illusion across a wide viewing angle at Grand Central Station. The animation was designed to complement the physical mascot trail across Birmingham, reinforcing Perry’s presence throughout the city during the Games.
- Goals:
◦ Interactive Engagement: Create real-time digital avatars where Perry could engage participants with physical challenges and capture selfies.
◦ High-Impact Visuals: Leverage the naked eye 3D effect on the Birmingham Eye to enhance visibility and engagement.
◦ Seamless Technology Adaptation: Overcome technical challenges to implement real-time avatars within a busy public space.
◦ Privacy Compliance: Ensure participant data remained private with GDPR-compliant systems. - Production:
◦ Real-Time Digital Avatar and Motion Capture: Perry’s digital avatars engaged participants with seven motion-captured exercises and offered virtual selfies through a temporary QR code system.
◦ Naked Eye 3D Effect at Birmingham Eye: An anamorphic 3D animation of Perry on the LED screen created a striking visual experience, drawing attention to Perry’s Trail.
◦ Technology Adaptation: Adapted the system for real-time interactivity within public infrastructure without disrupting operations.
◦ Privacy-Compliant Selfie System: Delivered selfies through unique QR codes that did not store personal data. - Results:
◦ High Levels of Engagement: Over 11,000 interactions across eight digital avatar installations, averaging 550 daily interactions.
◦ Stunning Visual Impact: The naked eye 3D effect captivated audiences and enhanced awareness of the Commonwealth Games.
◦ Successful Technology Integration: Real-time avatars operated seamlessly in high-traffic areas.
◦ Charity Donations: Encouraged donations through QR codes, contributing to Sport Relief initiatives.
Results: 11,000 Interactions and a New Benchmark for Games Activations
Perry’s Trail generated over 11,000 interactions across the eight digital avatar installations during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, averaging 550 daily interactions per location. These figures reflect not just footfall but genuine engagement—participants actively completing physical challenges, capturing virtual selfies, and sharing their experiences on social media. The naked eye 3D installation at Birmingham Eye became one of the most photographed and shared visual moments of the Games, significantly amplifying awareness of Perry’s Trail and the broader Commonwealth Games programme across digital channels.
The combination of unexpected scale, technical novelty, and Perry’s inherently playful character created a viral quality that traditional outdoor advertising rarely achieves. Beyond the engagement metrics, the project demonstrated the viability of deploying complex, real-time, interactive technology in live public infrastructure at major international events. The QR-based selfie system also contributed to Sport Relief charitable initiatives, adding a meaningful social dimension to an already impactful activation.
Privacy-First Interactive Design for Public Activations
One of the defining challenges of Perry’s Trail was delivering a highly personal, shareable interactive experience within the strict data privacy requirements of a major public event. The virtual selfie system was designed from the ground up with GDPR compliance as a core requirement, not an afterthought. Each participant received their selfie via a unique temporary QR code generated at the point of interaction. No personal data was captured, stored, or processed at any stage of the experience. Once retrieved, the QR code expired, ensuring participant privacy was maintained throughout.
This approach enabled ex1t.one to deliver social sharing functionality that makes activations like Perry’s Trail resonate beyond the immediate moment, without compromising the privacy of the thousands of participants who engaged over the seventeen days of the Games. This privacy-compliant framework has since informed our approach to all public-facing interactive installations, establishing a model that other event activations can follow when balancing engagement objectives with data protection obligations.
Related Interactive and Outdoor Installations
Explore more interactive and outdoor digital experiences from ex1t.one:
- Royal Ascot Sun-path – Sun-synchronised 35-metre LED installation for a heritage sporting event
- Samsung FanFrame – AR interactive experience bringing fans closer to the action
- Monument to the Revolution – Large scale interactive and experiential installation in Mexico City
ex1t.one’s Approach to Major Event Activations
ex1t.one brings together narrative design, real-time technology, and deep experience in live event production to create activations that perform under the demanding conditions of major international events. Perry’s Trail at Birmingham 2022 is a strong example of this capability: technically complex, publicly visible, operationally demanding, and creatively driven. Our work for the Commonwealth Games drew on expertise in motion capture integration, real-time rendering, naked eye 3D production, and GDPR-compliant interactive systems. The project was delivered across multiple simultaneous public locations, coordinated with Birmingham City Council and the Birmingham 2022 organising committee throughout. For further context on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and its wider cultural programme, visit the official Birmingham 2022 legacy site.