About Aurora Vortex
Aurora Vortex creates immersive experiences that transport audiences beyond the boundaries of time and place. Working at the intersection of storytelling, design, and technology, we turn knowledge and ideas into experiences that inspire curiosity, spark imagination, and stay with you.
We collaborate with museums, science centers, universities, researchers, and cultural institutions to bring complex subjects closer to people — making the extraordinary accessible and meaningful.
For us, immersion is more than being surrounded by images and sound. It is about taking people somewhere they could never otherwise go, offering new perspectives, and creating experiences that spark reflection and conversation long after they leave.
Why Aurora Vortex?
The name Aurora Vortex reflects the kind of experiences we want to create.
Aurora evokes wonder, discovery, and the almost otherworldly beauty of the aurora borealis — something capable of making us stop, look, and feel part of something larger than ourselves.
Vortex suggests movement and transformation: a force that draws you in and carries you somewhere else.
Together, they express an idea at the heart of our work: creating experiences that draw people into another world and send them back with something worth remembering.
About Sølve Jozeph Westli:
The Vision Behind Aurora Vortex
Sølve Jozeph Westli is a multidisciplinary designer, artist, musician, and the founder and Creative Director of Aurora Vortex. Based in Bergen, Norway, his work moves between spatial design, storytelling, sound, technology, and science communication.
He studied Furniture and Interior Architecture at the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design, University of Bergen, with a particular interest in how museum spaces can create meaningful experiences. He later spent six years working at the University Museum of Bergen, developing exhibitions and gaining first-hand experience of bringing design, technology, research, and public communication together.
His design and installation work has been presented at Bergen Design Week, KODE, KRAFT, and Milan Design Week. Alongside his design practice, Sølve has worked with music and sound for much of his life, releasing music as Jozeph and collaborating on several musical projects. This background in sound, composition, and visual storytelling continues to influence how he approaches immersive environments.
In 2024, Sølve created and led the development of The Changing Ocean for Bergen Aquarium — an immersive 360° experience combining cinematic storytelling, scientific research, spatial design, CGI, and immersive sound. The project brought together researchers, designers, filmmakers, musicians, and technology specialists, and became an important foundation for Aurora Vortex.
Today, his focus is on creating immersive experiences that make complex knowledge accessible, engaging, and memorable — connecting people with science, culture, and stories they might otherwise never encounter..
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Collaboration Partners
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One Ocean - Havbyen Bergen
One Ocean is a collaboration between actors from business, academia, and the public sector, focusing on sustainable value creation, knowledge, and research related to the ocean. Statsraad Lehmkuhl and One Ocean Expedition serve as a floating ambassador for Norway as an ocean nation. Through diplomacy and networking, we extend invitations to One Ocean Week, held in Bergen every April.
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Rebel Unit
Rebel Unit is a creative studio with extensive experience in visual storytelling, specializing in visual effects, color grading, 3D animation, and title sequence design. With highlights like His Dark Materials, Midsommar, and Doctor Strange, they have proven their expertise in delivering high-quality visuals for large-scale projects.
Rebel Unit consistently delivers excellence. -
Avistas
Avistas is a company with extensive experience and expertise in the technical aspects of museum and exhibition installations. Notable projects include the University Museum in Bergen, Salomon Eye in Rosendal, and The Changing Ocean exhibit at Bergen Aquarium. These highlights showcase their exceptional competence in executing highly advanced installations with meticulous precision. Avistas consistently delivers excellence.
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Institute of Marine Research
Our collaboration with the Institute of Marine Research in Bergen has allowed us to combine immersive storytelling with marine science. Working alongside Norway’s largest centre for marine research, we co-developed interactive audiovisual experiences that translate real oceanographic data into sensory-rich installations—bringing complex marine ecosystems and research stories to life for broader audiences.
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The Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design
We have an academic partnership with the Department of Visual Communication at the faculty.
The Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design at the University of Bergen strives to remain at the forefront of new media and is therefore a natural partner. On multiple occasions, Westli has given lectures to faculty students and welcomed them for site visits.
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Fulbright Collaboration
Dr. Helen Wang is a Fulbright U.S. Scholar hosted by the Game School at Inland University of Norway. She in an expert on leveraging the power of storytelling in popular entertainment and educational media for social impact and behavior change. Her current project focuses on public engagement and climate change communication in the context of ocean literacy in Norway.
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Øystein Rygg Haanæs
Øystein Rygg Haanæs is a seasoned freelance writer and journalist with a rich portfolio of articles covering topics such as climate change, social issues, and technology. With a background as Information Manager at the Chr. Michelsen Institute and corporate advisor at TV 2 Group, he has demonstrated expertise in communicating complex topics with clarity and depth. Øystein consistently delivers thoughtful and impactful storytelling.
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Other Collaborations
At Aurora Vortex, collaboration is at the core of our success. We bring together expertise from a wide range of fields to ensure the highest quality in every project. Our team works closely with acoustician Bård Støfringsdal, sound designer and engineer Yngve Leidulf Sætre, architects, RIE (electrical engineers), RIV (ventilation engineers), and other specialists in building and construction. This multidisciplinary approach allows us to deliver innovative, precise, and customized solutions that meet the unique needs of each project.
