During Paris Fashion Week, L’Oréal introduced Le Visionnaire, a new creative hub that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge technology to shape the future of the company. The hub is housed in a five-story mirrored capsule between two 18th-century buildings, with its centerpiece being an AI-powered digital forecasting tool called the Visionary Wall.
The Visionary Wall serves as a source of inspiration and trend monitoring for L’Oréal employees. Unlike traditional archives, the content on the wall is dynamic and constantly updated with new and relevant information. Employees can use the touchscreens to collect sources for brainstorming and strategic thinking about new products and retail experiences.
The AI-powered tool works on theme-based waves, allowing users to create mood boards based on various themes related to beauty, fashion, food, design, and travel. Once a theme is chosen, the AI suggests a mix of sources based on meaning and color.
Le Visionnaire also features an extensive multimedia archive with individual stations equipped with screens. There is also a brand room where projections are displayed on the vaulted ceiling and touch-activated walls serve as screens for playing campaign footage. Bluetooth technology is used in these spaces to send selected content directly to employees’ email accounts when their smartphones are placed on a dock.
The development of Le Visionnaire was done in collaboration with Local Projects, an American company specializing in interactive museums. The concept draws inspiration from Local Projects’ work at Ohio’s Cleveland Museum and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York.
The sound architecture at Le Visionnaire was designed by Paris’ Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics and Music (IRCAM) to enhance mental capacity. They created three different tracks to engage the brain during archive exploration, product demonstrations in the brand room, and brainstorming sessions with the Visionary Wall.
Le Visionnaire takes inspiration from former L’Oréal Group CEO François Dalle, who emphasized seizing opportunities. His book, “L’aventure L’Oréal,” published in 2001, codified his theories on successful business practice. The hub embodies Dalle’s mantra of embracing what is starting and aligns with the company’s forward-thinking approach.
In conclusion, Le Visionnaire is a groundbreaking creative hub that leverages AI and state-of-the-art technology to drive innovation and shape the future of L’Oréal. With its dynamic content, theme-based waves, and extensive multimedia archive, it serves as a source of inspiration and trend monitoring for L’Oréal employees. The collaboration with Local Projects and IRCAM ensures a seamless user experience and enhances creativity. Le Visionnaire embodies the spirit of seizing opportunities and reflects L’Oréal’s commitment to staying at the forefront of the beauty industry.