“We have an opportunity, every single day, to make a better world,” says futurist, fine artist and award-winning XR community leader Paige Dansinger.

“These are just tools in our hands. The magic is in us.”

The tools to which she’s referring are the digital technologies, including virtual and augmented reality, which she uses to empower others.

Paige, who has, so far, crafted more than 300 immersive worlds, has received multiple honors for her work in the metaverse. Recognized by Meta as one of the Top 115 Global Community Leaders, she is the founder of Horizon Art Museum, and of Women in Horizon, in Meta Horizon.

She’s also the creator and Founding Director of Better World Museum, which is accessible in different versions on three virtual platforms: Meta Horizon, Roblox and Rec Room.

But don’t expect to visit these museums and simply look at exhibits.

Empowerment through interaction

Paige’s particular blend of magic is all about interactivity.

Participants in her worlds are encouraged to grow, and to explore their own creativity, by painting, building and adding their voices to items in the metaverse.

And they also get to plant flowers.

One of Paige’s recent creations is the VR Garden game, which she designed in partnership with the Virtual World Society.

Ultimately, she says, her virtual work is about humanity–and about using XR to grow together.

Paige talked about her background, shared the story of creating the Better World Museum and the ways she uses virtual art to empower others, and offered a look at some of her favorite creative resources.

On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

• The start of Paige’s journey as an artist;

• Her first experience with creative technologies;

• The story of the Better World Museum (and her first VR project!);

• One of her favorite experiences, touring internationally and empowering others through creativity and virtual reality;

• Her creative process, when designing her empowering XR experiences;

• A closer look at the upcoming Women in Horizon classes;

• Paige’s work in partnership with the Virtual World Society;

• Some of the features visitors can explore, in Better World Museum;

• A look inside Horizon Art Museum;

• Where to get started, if you’d like to learn more about creating in XR;

• The new technologies Paige would like to explore next;

• Some of the world building resources she recommends.