Jay Heinz is a strategic creative leader who specializes in digital experiences, interactive media, and storytelling for museums and mission-driven organizations.
Jay currently leads creative and production strategy at Relative Scale and previously directed digital production, exhibitions, and strategic initiatives at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. He has produced award-winning fulldome films, interactive exhibits, and immersive environments in collaboration with NASA, Special Olympics, NSF, and leading projects that have reached millions of visitors worldwide.
Jay currently leads creative and production strategy at Relative Scale and previously directed digital production, exhibitions, and strategic initiatives at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. He has produced award-winning fulldome films, interactive exhibits, and immersive environments in collaboration with NASA, Special Olympics, NSF, and leading projects that have reached millions of visitors worldwide.
Fulldome Films
Executive-produced 14 award-winning fulldome films combining 3D animation and live-action 360° video, distributed to over 180 theaters across four continents. Topics spanned astronomy, life sciences, and history, with content developed in partnership with NASA, the NIH, NSF, and leading science educators. Projects included both original IP and adaptations of popular educational series such as Magic Tree House and Grossology, engaging millions of viewers worldwide with science-driven storytelling.
Executive-produced 14 award-winning fulldome films combining 3D animation and live-action 360° video, distributed to over 180 theaters across four continents. Topics spanned astronomy, life sciences, and history, with content developed in partnership with NASA, the NIH, NSF, and leading science educators. Projects included both original IP and adaptations of popular educational series such as Magic Tree House and Grossology, engaging millions of viewers worldwide with science-driven storytelling.
Immersive Media & Emerging Technology
Lead the development of innovative experiences using VR, AR, drones, AI, and other emerging tools to enable new forms of scientific storytelling and audience interaction. Projects for institutions such as The Washington Post and the National Science Foundation have explored complex topics through immersive, data-driven, and narrative-rich environments.
Lead the development of innovative experiences using VR, AR, drones, AI, and other emerging tools to enable new forms of scientific storytelling and audience interaction. Projects for institutions such as The Washington Post and the National Science Foundation have explored complex topics through immersive, data-driven, and narrative-rich environments.
Location Based Interactive Exhibits
Lead the creation of interactive experiences for museums and science centers, including a $9M+ transformation of Morehead Planetarium. Co-founded Roboto Octopodo, an original immersive location concept in the spirit of Meow Wolf, guiding early design and prototyping to explore new models of narrative-driven storytelling.
Lead the creation of interactive experiences for museums and science centers, including a $9M+ transformation of Morehead Planetarium. Co-founded Roboto Octopodo, an original immersive location concept in the spirit of Meow Wolf, guiding early design and prototyping to explore new models of narrative-driven storytelling.
Video Production
Led multidisciplinary teams to produce compelling documentary and branded content for clients such as The Washington Post, Special Olympics, and the University of North Carolina. Skilled in translating complex subjects into visually engaging science, history, and educational stories for web, streaming, and giant-screen platforms.
Led multidisciplinary teams to produce compelling documentary and branded content for clients such as The Washington Post, Special Olympics, and the University of North Carolina. Skilled in translating complex subjects into visually engaging science, history, and educational stories for web, streaming, and giant-screen platforms.
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MARS - THE ULTIMATE JOURNEY
Immersive Fulldome Video MYSTERIES OF THE BRAIN
Immersive Fulldome Video TALES OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH
Immersive Fulldome Video |
HIDDEN NO MORE
VR, Animation and Documentary Video MOREHEAD PLANETARIUM RENOVATION
Project Lead - $9M Construction and Exhibit project ONE GIANT LEAP
Immersive Fulldome Video |
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SELECT FULLDOME PLANETARIUM FILMS
• Secrets from a Forest (2024) - Consultant • Mars: The Ultimate Journey (2023) - Producer • One Giant Leap (2021) - Producer • Mysteries of Your Brain (2020) - Producer • Tales of the American South (2019) - Producer/Director • Take Flight (2016) - Producer/Director • Grossology and You (2014) - Producer/Director • The Longest Night: A Winter's Tale (2013) - Producer • Solar System Odyssey (2011) - Producer/Director • Magic Tree House: Space Mission (2011) - Producer/Director • Earth, Moon and Sun (2010) - Producer/Director |
^ INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARIES
Producer and coach for award-winning international multimedia documentary projects and multiple Special Olympics. 
^ TEACHING/INSTRUCTION
Adjunct Professor/Instructor for multimedia storytelling courses focusing on documentary video and online interactive content. Lead Instructor of Multimedia Bootcamp for professional journalists and multimedia coach at Eddie Adams Photography Workshop. |
^ INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS
Producer of multiple traveling interactive large scale exhibitions. 
^ DOCUMENTARY VIDEO
Documentary work and consulting with the Washington Post, New York Times, Duke University, University of North Carolina, Martha Graham, Music Maker, Durham Bulls and more. |
^ CONFERENCES
Presenter/Speaker at conferences such as ASTC, IMERSA and FILM-COM and media such as NPR's The State of Things. 
^ MULTIMEDIA DESIGN
Designer of significant sections of Lucasfilm websites such as starwars.com, indianajones.com, starwarskids.com and other commercial sites. |
