EVO HEYNING
Architect of Intelligent Futures
CEO, Realitycraft | XR Guild VP | Generative Media Strategist
Evo Heyning is a visionary creative technologist and interactive media strategist with 20+ years of hands-on AI leadership, working at the intersection of Generative AI, Spatial Computing (XR), and Public Innovation. As the founder of Realitycraft, she prototypes "protopian" futures-systems designed for human flourishing, sustainable housing, and ethical digital governance.
Evo's AI career spans from leading live AI-powered media integrations for the launch of the Affordable Care Act (2014) to directing AI innovation sprints across major cities (2016–2019) with Fortune 500 partners including HP and TDAmeritrade. In 2023 she authored the Promptcraft Guidebook, establishing industry-leading frameworks for AI-driven creative processes. Today she teaches AI and XR in media workflows inside agencies and public organizations worldwide.
From steering global standards for the Open Metaverse to facilitating community-led civic design, Evo bridges the gap between complex emerging tech and actionable social impact. Oakland, CA based, available for global keynotes and remote consulting.
Generative AI & Promptcraft
Pioneer in human-AI collaborative workflows
Immersive Strategy (XR)
Spatial computing & ethical immersive design
Public Planning & Innovation
Participatory design for civic resilience
Digital Governance
International standards for digital identity & safety
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
For over two decades, Evo Heyning has been a pioneering force in AI-powered media and emerging technology. From early AI integrations in live broadcast media for the Affordable Care Act launch in 2014 to leading smart cities AI innovation sprints with Miami, Medellín, and Fortune 500 partners from 2016–2019, her work has consistently pushed AI into practical, impactful applications at scale.
In 2023, she authored the Promptcraft Guidebook, establishing frameworks for human-AI collaborative workflows across all media types. She now teaches AI and XR integration in media workflows inside agencies, studios, and public organizations, training teams on generative production pipelines, prompt engineering, and responsible AI deployment.
As a dynamic technical leader, media executive, and community architect, she has managed multi-million-dollar budgets, scaled operational efficiency by up to 300%, and delivered dozens of award-winning projects for global brands and blockbuster films.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Strategic Leadership & Operations
- Go-to-Market Strategy
- Product Lifecycle Roadmaps
- Multi-Million Dollar Budget Management
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
- Strategic Partnerships
Technical & Creative Expertise
- Generative AI & LLMs
- Prompt Engineering (Promptcraft)
- XR Technologies (VR/AR/WebXR)
- Virtual Production & Worldbuilding
- Interactive Media Production
- AI-Powered Workflows
Community & Ecosystem Development
- Open Source Community Leadership
- Developer & Creator Relations
- Ethical & Responsible Tech Advocacy
- Public Speaking & Education
- Mass Public Participation Design
XR Media Executive Leadership
- Video & Immersive Production
- Workflow Architecture Design
- Omnichannel Media Strategy
- AI-Powered Production Pipelines
- Mixed Reality Production
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Founder & CEO
Realitycraft
- ▸Authored the Promptcraft Guidebook (2023), establishing industry-leading frameworks for AI-driven creative processes
- ▸Developed and executed comprehensive product roadmaps for XR/AI products; spoke on the future of the open web at the World Government Summit 2023
- ▸Forged global strategic partnerships and vetted hundreds of generative AI technologies to steer R&D and secure first-mover advantage
- ▸Produced 5 award-winning new works through rapid prototyping, demonstrating excellence in concept design, storytelling, and experimental video production
CEO
Playable Agency
- ▸Managed annual budgets exceeding $1M while leading a multidisciplinary team to deliver 100% of projects on time for CES, Ars Electronica, and IEEE
- ▸Collaborated with hundreds of C-level executives to host foundational events for the Metaverse Standards Forum and OMI Group
- ▸Produced 500+ hours of livestream content and 10 bespoke XR experiences, optimizing audience engagement during the global shift to virtual events
Co-Founder & Strategist
Toyshoppe Systems
- ▸Pioneered virtual production methodologies adopted by over a dozen blockbuster film projects
- ▸Directed multidisciplinary creative teams to complete 12 feature film projects and 3 theme park exhibits
CMO & Innovation Coach
OpenExO
- ▸Directed innovation initiatives and facilitated high-impact AI sprints for Fortune 500 partners including HP and TDAmeritrade
- ▸Led smart cities AI innovation sprints with Miami and Medellín, Colombia, deploying AI in public places and civic infrastructure
- ▸Empowered thousands of participants through immersive, hands-on workshops in AI and XR adoption
- ▸Teaches AI and XR integration in media workflows inside agencies and public organizations
Interactive Producer
TechSoup
- ▸Oversaw end-to-end project management for over 100 interactive media projects including virtual worlds, webinars, and live productions
- ▸Led AI-powered live media integrations for the launch of the Affordable Care Act (2014), pioneering real-time AI in public broadcasting
- ▸Coordinated with a network of over 1000 nonprofit creative partners
- ▸Improved organizational efficiency by 300% by refining AI-powered processes for video, apps, games, and VR experiences
Early Career Highlights
- ▸Contributed to the foundational 2004–2005 Metaverse Roadmap, shaping the future of immersive experiences
- ▸Pioneered early viral videos on YouTube and international social virtual experiences
- ▸Convinced eBay in 1998 to host charity auctions, demonstrating technology's potential for social impact
- ▸Burning Man Arts liaison and curator, facilitating large-scale interactive art installations
SPEAKING & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Digital Hollywood 2026, Summer
Digital Hollywood, Virtual (Free to Attend)
Featured talk at Digital Hollywood 2026 Summer events, free to attend virtually. Spoke on generative AI, immersive media, and the open spatial web.
SMPTE 2026, Women in Media Panel
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Los Angeles
Panel at SMPTE on immersive workflows, AI-powered pipelines, and the future of media production standards.
PXR Conference Futurenote Keynote
PXR Conference 2026
Keynote presentation on the future of immersive media production and generative worldbuilding tools.
HPA Tech Leadership Summit
Hollywood Professional Association
Presenting on immersive workflows and AI-powered pipelines for media production to Hollywood's top technical leaders.
World Government Summit
Dubai, UAE
Invited presenter speaking on the future of the open web and immersive technology for global governance leaders.
TEDxBlackRockCity
TEDx
Talk on connecting tools, access & DIY experiences to end slavery through technology.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
XR Guild
Vice President of the Board
Guiding efforts to establish ethical engagement practices, professional resources, and mentorship for creators across XR industries.
Open Metaverse Interoperability (OMI Group)
Co-Founder Emeritus & Community Leader
Established foundational open-source community dedicated to building standards and tools for an interoperable 3D web.
Virtual Worlds Museum
Curator & Curation Advisor
Advises on preservation of immersive history and curates exhibits showcasing the evolution of virtual worlds.
Metaverse Standards Forum
Working Group Co-Founder
Instrumental in establishing working groups bringing together hundreds of industry leaders to create technical standards for an open metaverse.
EDUCATION
Singularity University
Graduate Studies Program, 2012
Attended on a Google scholarship. Focus on AI strategy, ethics and futures design for public impact.
Eastern Nazarene College
BA Communications, Sociology & Religion, 1998
Photo editor, journalist, original media creator, exhibiting artist. Head of Women's Association, Student Body Chaplain, founded Peer Counseling Program.
Guest Lecturer at USC, UCLA, NYU, Parsons School of Design, Columbia University, OTIS School of Design, CSUMB & over 100 professional workshops and training programs.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Community Leadership Award
The Polys / WebXR Awards
2023
Featured in AI Evolution Documentary
Streaming Services
2024
Telly Award
Television & Video Excellence
FEATURED PLATFORMS
Websites and apps designed & built by Evo Heyning
Your place to design new worlds from concept to completion. Interactive worldbuilding app and creative design platform for immersive experiences, virtual production, and generative media.
realitycraft.app →
A comprehensive guide to extended reality experiences, curated worlds, portals, events, and community resources across VR, AR, and the spatial web.
xrguide.app →
PUBLICATIONS
Promptcraft Guidebook
Comprehensive guide to multimodal prompt writing for all types of media.
Realitycraft
Interactive guidebook and app for creative worldbuilding and design, now in private beta.
VisitFilm/Media Art Book
Physical art book on the artistic media of film.
Visions of Global Justice
Produced with the MacArthur Foundation and USC Network Culture Project.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER
Available for executive leadership roles, strategic consulting, and advisory positions in AI, XR, generative media, and immersive technology.