Research
Research provides evidence required to make the case for change: we survey the community to report its needs, leading to recommendations which ask the industry to take action. Here you can find our research and recommendations.
If you would like to commission research or a report with Ida, please contact leah@idaxrstudio.com
This report highlights experiences of women and gender nonconforming people working in the immersive and virtual production (VP) sectors. In 2023 Ida XR Studio collected wide-ranging data from professionals and students working in the immersive and virtual production industries via an anonymous survey. We gathered data on demographics, career aspirations, support needs, and the challenges faced. The insights and findings that related to our participants’ challenges emerged as the most profound and urgent to report on.
Part research report, part call to action, this is not designed to be comfortable reading. Here we share anonymous testimonials from people who have experienced some of the most difficult work-based contexts and challenges including harassment and bullying. We hope that by bringing these experiences to light, together as a community we can design strategies which bring about positive change. We want to thank the people who shared their experiences. It takes confidence to speak out and we thank you for your honesty and vulnerability.
2024 Research Report
A Silenced Sector: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Challenges
In the Immersive & Virtual Production Industries
This paper identifies critical workforce challenges in the immersive technology sector and outlines potential policy interventions to address them. To evaluate the effectiveness of these proposed interventions, we have developed a set of key questions with the aim of creating a feedback mechanism to Government. To build equitable policy interventions we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of both broad industrial and creative sector-specific policies as they apply to the immersive sector.
2024 Research Report
SPECTRUM: Shaping Policies for Equity in Creative Tech and Immersive Media
This report shares access and inclusion barriers recognised by UK university funders to gaining creative R&D for marginalised creators. It outlines the understanding funders have of barriers to applicants and also surfaces the challenges funders have when trying to making changes.
The report pinpoints solutions that funders could make independently to improve their funding calls, and also highlights the systemic barriers which pervade the sector.
The report calls for a collaborative approach from UK University funders, UKRI and AHRC as well as smaller grassroots organisations to work together to dismantle systemic barriers to access and inclusion, enabling a more diverse ecosystem of funded creative R&D.
2026 Research Report
Funding Futures: Tackling inequality and exclusion in the distribution of research and development funding in the Creative Industries Reporting from the Funding Futures symposium held in York on 17 April 2026
Authors: Leah Kurta, Emma Willingham, Emma Brown, Damian Murphy
A NOTE ON INTERSECTIONALITY & ALLYSHIP
We understand that people from different backgrounds will face different challenges when it comes to workplace discrimination. Our research aims to understand how workplace challenges differ depending on gender, race, education, disability, sexuality, income and more. With this data we intend to shape provision for different groups within our community. We have also formed a Steering Committee to better reflect the community, to help guide Ida’s work.
Allyship and advocacy are extremely important for enabling more inclusivity within the immersive technology sector. We encourage people of all genders and backgrounds to help. Whether you’re sharing our research on social media, helping to open up spaces, creating opportunities or recognising and challenging discrimination where you see it: You are helping!