experiential design and creative technology
experiential design and creative technology
Awkward Dog Interactive is an experience design and creative technology production company working primarily in the Location Based Entertainment (LBE) industry, with a particular emphasis on escape rooms and immersive gaming.
At Awkward Dog, we believe what makes an experience memorable is not its budget, or even necessarily its novelty, but its ability to produce maximum surprise, intrigue, and emotion using clever design, efficient resource management, and genuine love for the audience.
We offer:
Full-package experience design and production consulting
Custom interactive electronic puzzle and prop design and build services
Show control system design and programming
Experience operator interface design and programming
Creative solutions for your LBE experience from a tech and design informed perspective
Matthew McClain is the founder and managing director of Awkward Dog Interactive. He was born in Pasadena, CA, and has lived in the greater Los Angeles area for most of his life.
Matthew specializes in managing the parts of the creative process where different departments' and stakeholders' needs intersect and conflict. He understands the differing languages, backgrounds, and incentives of creatives, producers, managers, administrators, investors, and operations staff, and is dedicated to bridging the gaps between them with empathy and a holistic understanding of project goals and priorities.
Matthew has an extensive background as a Creative Technologist. His specialties include COGS interactive show control system programming, microcontroller electronics and programming (especially Arduino and ESP32-based boards), and addressable LED strips.
Matthew graduated from Lehigh University's I.D.E.A.S. honors program with a degree in integrated electrical engineering and product design (plus a minor in creative writing), and later acquired his E.I.T. certification.
In 2021, he published Arduino for Artists, a how-to book for people with art and design backgrounds looking to add programming and electronics to their skill sets.
He was once told by a friend that he bears a strong resemblance to an image he found of a very awkward dog.