IGN spoke to Dennis Gassner, the Oscar-winning production designer who worked on The Golden Compass, for a feature on a the alethiometer. “Gassner traveled with author Philip Pullman to the Museum of Mechanical Pieces to view inspiration pieces.” In the film, the truth telling device is an object of not only digital technology but also impressive brass work, constructed on on the foundry set up for the film at Shepperton Studios. Read more.