Will Roberts is a NYC-based XR Director and immersive experience designer who explores the intersection of technology, communal arts, folklore, and the human experience. He holds a B.A. in African Studies from the University of Oklahoma, where he was a Gates Millennium Scholar and Division I athlete. He earned an M.F.A. in 3D Animation and Interactive Art from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Inspired by his African-American heritage, Will’s work fuses “Design Thinking,” indigenous knowledge systems, and Afrofuturist visual motifs—a unique approach he calls “Applied Afrofuturism,” which celebrates marginalized cultures through tangible digital products and stories.

As the founder of Augmented Pictures, a one-man NYC-based immersive design studio, Will produces interactive and educational content for augmented and virtual reality. Beyond his digital work, Will’s real-world experiences—documenting Liberian war orphans and leading youth empowerment workshops—deeply influence his creative perspective, with a strong focus on connecting with and giving back to heritage and culture.