Forged is a creative studio based in Orange County, Californiabuilt at the intersection of art, code and AI.
We create immersive digital experiences that combine cinematic design, real-time rendering and emerging technology, from interactive websites and installations to generative storytelling, AR and VR.
At the center of everything we make is one custom WebGPU enginedesigned for high-quality rendering, AI integration and seamless cross-platform interactivity.
Whether the project is in a browser, a physical space, or a multiplayer world, it is supported by the same framework; keeping the creative intention perfectly aligned, from concept to execution.
Our journey
Forged was founded by Michael Modenaan industry veteran who wanted to build a studio that could move as fast as the technology itself.
What started as a six-week experiment quickly became a new model for how a creative team could operate: small, adaptable, and obsessed with precision.
The goal was not to rebuild what already existed, but to rethink it: What would a forward-looking studio look like if we built it from scratch today?
The early days were defined by rhythm, the mornings spent building the technical foundation, the afternoons spent creating. That balance between technology and artistry became our DNA.
The first major milestone was the founding of our own company WebGPU renderercapable of delivering movie-quality lighting in a browser. From there, Forged grew into a creative engine that now powers projects across the web, in physical and immersive spaces.
Shop window
Flower room: collective flowering
We created for Hall of Flowers 2025 The collective blossomingan interactive installation powered by more than 4.5 million real-time particles rendered in WebGPU. Attendees used their phones to place digital flowers into a living sculpture inspired by the Statue of Liberty, with each flower part of a growing field of color that developed over the two-day event. What started as a simple gesture grew into a huge, ever-changing work of art; a collective expression of creativity brought to life through cutting-edge graphics and shared participation.
NEFT: Barrel Frozen AR
In Formula D, NEFT’s drift car giveaway became a little bit of theater: we turned their signature barrel into an AR activation. Fans entered to win, then scanned the real barrel to watch it freeze in real time and were invited to break the ice for a chance to win bonus prizes. A simple giveaway turned into a shareable, story-driven brand moment that felt as satisfying as cracking open the win.
Aura Vinyl: Color Explorer
The Aura Color Explorer reinterprets how people buy vinyl wrap. Built with real-time 3D rendering, it lets users run, light and explore more than a dozen vehicle models to see how each film behaves under lifelike lighting. It’s Need for Speed in your browser. It has become the centerpiece of Aura’s online experience, allowing shoppers to spend more time exploring and making confident, inspired choices.
The Trevor Project: What Hope Looks Like
What hope looks like is an AI-guided meditation on hope and resilience. Led by Sol, a calm, reflective AI presence, users are invited to a short conversation that turns their words into living watercolor art, painted in real time by Google’s Imagen model. Built with custom watercolor shaders and particle systems, the experience blurs the line between human emotion and machine expression; culminating in a shared gallery of glowing lanterns, each carrying one’s personal reflection. Created in support of The Trevor Project, it transforms a moment of introspection into a collective act of hope.
Culture & Team
Forged is deliberately small: a workshop, not a factory. Everyone is a creator. We value taste, precision and originality over scale.
Our culture runs on rhythm and trust. AI plays a role in almost everything we do, but it never replaces the human hand. We work remotely, but share one philosophy: Everything should feel like it is made and not manufactured.
The name Forged is not metaphorical. It’s our process. We heat, hammer and shape every idea until it is perfect.
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