ZEISS Planetariums Brings Science, Technology and Emotion to Fulldome Audiences

Poster for the fulldome experience “Into the Infinite” by visuarte in cooperation with ZEISS

(IN BRIEF) ZEISS Planetariums has received international recognition for “ZEISS – Into the Infinite,” an eight-minute fulldome and VR experience developed with Munich-based creative agency visuarte. The immersive show won multiple honours at the WorldMediaFestivals 2026 in Berlin, including the intermedia-globe Gold Award, the intermedia-globe Grand Award in Corporate Communications and the audience award. The production takes audiences from the cosmos to Earth and into hidden worlds such as cells, the brain and artificial intelligence, using 360-degree imagery, spatial sound and high-resolution dome projection. The show has been presented at international fulldome festivals and will appear in selected planetariums, festivals, events such as the Long Night of Science in Jena, and the ZEISS Museum of Optics in Oberkochen.

(PRESS RELEASE) OBERKOCHEN, 11-Aug-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — ZEISS Planetariums has received international recognition for “ZEISS – Into the Infinite,” an immersive fulldome and VR brand experience that takes audiences on an eight-minute journey through science, technology, the cosmos and the hidden worlds of life.

Developed jointly by ZEISS and Munich-based creative agency visuarte, the production has won several international awards in 2026 and has attracted strong responses from expert juries and audiences alike.

At the WorldMediaFestivals 2026 in Berlin, “ZEISS – Into the Infinite” received the intermedia-globe Gold Award, the intermedia-globe Grand Award in the Corporate Communications category and the audience award.

The jury recognised the production’s creative and technical quality, as well as its ability to communicate complex themes in an emotional and accessible way.

The WorldMediaAwards are among the internationally recognised awards for television and corporate media and have been presented for more than 20 years.

“ZEISS – Into the Infinite” presents the company’s technological and scientific contribution as an immersive journey rather than a conventional explanation.

The experience connects distant galaxies, living cells, neural networks and future technologies, reflecting how ZEISS has helped shape the way people observe and understand the world.

Florian Rothenberger, Managing Director and Creative Director at visuarte, said ZEISS has shaped humanity’s view of the world for decades, from observations of distant galaxies to insights into living organisms.

He said the aim of the production was not simply to explain that connection, but to make it tangible as an experience.

Melanie Müller-Ittstein, author and director of the production, said fulldome offers a unique visual language because audiences are not merely spectators, but are placed at the centre of the action.

After its world premiere at the Fulldome Festival Brno and international premiere at the Fulldome Festival Fukuoka, the show has been presented at several international festivals.

In Germany, it was shown at the 20th Fulldome Festival at the ZEISS Planetarium Jena, coinciding with a special anniversary.

The world’s oldest planetarium celebrated its 100th anniversary and, following extensive modernisation, is now regarded as one of the technologically leading hybrid planetariums.

Immersive storytelling under the dome

Planetariums are dedicated to sharing knowledge and exploring space, stars and galaxies through immersive imagery under the dome.

With digital fulldome projection, 360-degree films and animations can be presented across the entire dome surface.

For “ZEISS – Into the Infinite,” ZEISS and visuarte developed a visual language that combines scientific content, historical milestones and future technologies into an immersive format.

The production uses the capabilities of modern fulldome systems, including high-resolution 360-degree plus sphere visualisations, spatial sound and seamless transitions between scientific representations and computer-generated environments.

For ZEISS, the inventor of planetarium technology and a leading provider of hybrid projection technologies for domes, the fulldome format provides a natural platform for presenting the company’s identity and technological range.

Ansgar Seelen, Head of Creation and Design Strategy at ZEISS, said presenting the full spectrum of ZEISS in an immersive or virtual experience opens new perspectives.

He said the show allows audiences to dive into nanoworlds, microorganisms, neural networks and the vastness of space, while using the technical potential of planetariums, including deep black, resolutions up to 8K and spatial sound.

Seelen said the production turns the ZEISS brand promise, “Seeing beyond,” into a compelling experience and demonstrates how the company continues to expand the frontiers of knowledge.

The show begins under a deep black dome, where two children look at the night sky and a shooting star marks the start of the journey.

Audiences then travel through galaxies, experience photography on the Moon, enter Earth’s atmosphere and oceans, and move into hidden worlds such as biological cells, the human brain and artificial intelligence.

Through 360-degree imagery and spatial sound, the production connects science and art, data and emotion, and the macrocosm and microcosm.

ZEISS experience in planetariums, VR and mobile formats

“ZEISS – Into the Infinite” is also suitable for VR environments, allowing the immersive experience to be presented beyond the planetarium dome.

The show will be screened in selected planetariums, at festivals and at events such as the Long Night of Science in Jena, as well as at the ZEISS Museum of Optics in Oberkochen.

ZEISS also offers a mobile experience through the Explore ZEISS multimedia app.

The app presents selected milestones, personalities and modern ZEISS applications in areas such as microscopy, photography and semiconductor technology through stories, videos, texts, augmented reality scenes and 3D models.

Users can also virtually look through the “Moon Camera”.

The Explore ZEISS app is available free of charge in the iOS and Android app stores.

Through “ZEISS – Into the Infinite,” ZEISS Planetariums and visuarte have created an award-winning immersive experience that brings together science, technology, corporate storytelling and emotional visual design in a format designed for domes, VR environments and wider digital engagement.

About visuarte

visuarte creative media agency, based in Munich, develops immersive experiences at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and space. The company conceives and implements international projects in fulldome, XR, brand storytelling and activation, exhibitions, and audiovisual communication. Clients include technology companies, research institutions, industrial companies, and public institutions. visuarte’s work has been awarded multiple times at international festivals and combines complex content with emotionally engaging, visually striking storytelling.

More information at: www.visuarte.com

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling almost 12 billion euros in its four segments Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, and Consumer Markets (September 30, 2025).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces, and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world’s leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses, and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare, and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future of technology and constantly advancing the world of optics and related fields with its solutions. The company’s significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS’ technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 14 percent of its revenue in research and development – this high level of expenditure has a long tradition at ZEISS and is also an investment in the future.

With over 47,400 employees, ZEISS is active globally in around 50 countries with more than 60 sales and service locations, around 40 research and development facilities, and 30 production facilities worldwide (March 31, 2026). Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG.

Further information at www.zeiss.com

About ZEISS Planetariums

ZEISS has been a pioneer in planetarium technology since developing the world’s first star projector more than 100 years ago. Today, ZEISS offers a complete portfolio of optical-mechanical projectors, digital fulldome systems and visualization software, enabling planetariums worldwide to create inspiring experiences of astronomy, science and culture. ZEISS Planetariums is located in Jena, Germany, and part of the ZEISS strategic business unit Photonics & Optics.

Further information at www.zeiss.com/planetariums

Media Contacts:

Joachim Kuss
ZEISS Photonics & Optics
tel:+49 151 42 11 22 88
joachim.kuss@zeiss.com

Melanie Müller-Ittstein
visuarte creative media agency
tel:+49 89 45 24 46-0
post@visuarte.com

SOURCE: ZEISS