Once again this year, the Craft World community made its voice heard at the HIE – Hypergrid International Expo, bringing energy, creativity, and plenty of experience. From education and artificial intelligence to digital art, Craft residents showed just how vibrant and inspiring a free and collaborative metaverse can be.
🇮🇹 Italian session
UnAcademy, the school between real and immaterial
Luciana Mattei, a primary school teacher from Latina, Italy, presented the passionate work she carries out in her unAcademy region on Craft. She teaches math, technology, and English — but in her own unique way: by turning lessons into immersive experiences where children move around, discover, and explore. The virtual world becomes a creative, stimulating environment where learning happens through play, surprise, and fun. And the results? The kids love it!
Edu3D: AI in Virtual Worlds – A Practical Guide for Everyone
Salahzar Steenvag and Eva Kraai are familiar faces to anyone interested in education in virtual environments. Through their long-running Edu3D project, they offer courses, workshops, and immersive experiences that blend technology, culture, and creativity. Their activities include courses in Blender, 3D educational explorations, and discussions on current topics. Recently, they’ve been experimenting a lot with artificial intelligence: from generating images and co-creating virtual scenes with AI, to using intelligent NPCs that can guide, explain, or interact with students. A fascinating mix of science, art, and innovation.
🇪🇸 Spanish session:
Art and stories in the metaverse: Experience the Art within two realities
Xirana Oximoxi, a Catalan writer and illustrator, brought her poetic and colorful vision to HIE. With a long-standing presence in both Second Life and Craft Grid, where she has her own sim, Xirana works across both digital and traditional media — from children’s books to virtual installations. Her contributions are like walking into a story: vibrant exhibitions, immersive experiences, and interactive artworks that connect people through emotion and imagination. A true multimedia artist using the metaverse to bring stories to life.
Building to connect cultures: The four worlds of the Hopi Pueblo and the Spanish
Among the participants was Tosha Tyran, one of the founding souls of Craft World. She was one of the very first four residents of the grid, 16 years ago, and has been building ever since. Her passion lies in recreating real-world landscapes and architecture — often inspired by UNESCO World Heritage Sites — with a focus on detail, atmosphere, and meaning. But it’s more than just visual beauty: her builds are cultural bridges, immersive spaces that invite people to explore and learn about the world through the lens of virtual reality.
Special thanks
A warm thank you to Lorenza Colicigno, writer and poet — and one of the founders of unAcademy — for her kind and thoughtful hosting of the Italian session; to Ana Maggi, who presented the Spanish session with grace; and to Thirza Ember and the entire HIE team for the care, dedication, and patience they put into organizing this event.
One event, many visions: the energy of Craft World
The HIE once again showed how Craft World is a unique space — a place where education, art, experimentation, technology, and community all come together. Its participants are curious, generous, and passionate about sharing and building together. And now, with AI opening up even more creative paths, we can’t wait to see where the next virtual journey will take us.
