Creating an Interactive ML-Powered Photo Installation for GSK at ECCMID 2024

Overview

GSK approached us to design and develop an immersive, tech-driven installation for ECCMID Global 2024, one of the leading international conferences for infectious disease and microbiology. Our task was to create an interactive experience that engaged attendees in a fun, personalized way—while also showcasing innovation and capturing useful insights for GSK’s marketing and events team.

The final product was a seamless blend of high-resolution visuals, real-time machine learning, and custom analytics—all packaged into a visually striking installation tailored for large 4K displays.

The Challenge

GSK needed an installation that would grab attention, invite interaction, and leave a lasting impression on conference attendees—all while functioning smoothly in a high-traffic event environment.

They also wanted to capture and analyze participant engagement in real time, providing both an immediate visual experience and valuable post-event insights.

Our Solution

We developed an end-to-end solution that merged real-time machine learning, custom software engineering, and event-ready UX design into a unified, engaging experience.

Key components included:
- 📸 Photo Capture Station: On-site camera system that allowed attendees to take real-time portraits
- 🧠 ML-Based Image Processing: A custom-trained model isolated subjects and dynamically replaced backgrounds with event-themed visuals
- 🖥️ 4K Display-Optimized UI: High-res rendering of each stylized portrait for instant preview and sharing
- 🧩 Live Digital Mosaic: A continuously updating grid of all participant portraits, arranged via ML-driven layout logic to form a collaborative artwork
- 📊 Custom Analytics Platform: Real-time engagement tracking, photo counts, and participation metrics available to GSK via a private dashboard

We also ensured seamless behind-the-scenes operation: image upload and processing pipelines were optimized for speed and reliability, enabling minimal wait times and a polished end-user experience.

Results

The installation was a standout success at ECCMID 2024. Hundreds of attendees interacted with the system, creating personalized portraits and contributing to the live mosaic—a dynamic, collective artwork that grew throughout the event.

GSK gained valuable visibility, real-time engagement metrics, and a strong visual presence at the conference. The custom analytics dashboard offered actionable insights on user behavior and participation trends, tying creative tech to business value.