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How we amplified visitor diversity at
a research institution through tactile, interactive storytelling.

How we amplified visitor diversity at a research institution through tactile, interactive storytelling.

How we amplified visitor diversity at a research institution through tactile, interactive storytelling.

How we amplified visitor diversity at a research institution through tactile, interactive storytelling.

How we amplified visitor diversity at a research institution through tactile, interactive storytelling.

Once an exclusive collective of researchers and historians,
|the Science History Institute took on a new mission to take science out of labs and labcoats and into our everyday lives.
At the center of this mission, twelve objects await to unlock their stories on the Object Explorer.

Once an exclusive collective of researchers and historians,
the Science History Institute took on a new mission to take science out of labs and labcoats and into our everyday lives.
At the center of this mission, twelve objects await to unlock their stories on the Object Explorer.

Once an exclusive collective of researchers and historians,
the Science History Institute took on a new mission to take science out of labs and labcoats and into our everyday lives. At the center of this mission, twelve objects await to unlock their stories on the Object Explorer.

Once an exclusive collective of researchers and historians,
the Science History Institute took on a new mission to take science out of labs and labcoats and into our everyday lives. At the center of this mission, twelve objects await to unlock their stories on the Object Explorer.

Once an exclusive collective of researchers and historians, the Science History Institute took on a new mission to take science out of labs and labcoats and into our everyday lives. At the center of this mission, twelve objects await to unlock their stories on the Object Explorer.

my role

my role

my role

my role

my role

Experience Designer: UI, UX, IA, interaction design,
user testing, design production.

Tools: Sketch, Adobe Illustrator, After Effects
With: Potion Design

Experience Designer: UI, UX, IA, interaction design,
user testing, design production.

Tools: Sketch, Adobe Illustrator, After Effects
With: Potion Design

Experience Designer: UI, UX, IA, interaction design,
user testing, design production.
Tools: Sketch, Adobe Illustrator, After Effects
With: Potion Design

Experience Designer: UI, UX, IA, interaction design,
user testing, design production.
Tools: Sketch, Adobe Illustrator, After Effects
With: Potion Design

Experience Designer: UI, UX, IA, interaction design, user testing, design production.
Tools: Sketch, Adobe Illustrator, After Effects
With: Potion Design

touch table, native app

touch table, native app

touch table, native app

touch table, native app

touch table, native app

Launch: July 2018
Client: Science History Institute

Launch: July 2018
Client: Science History Institute

Launch: July 2018
Client: Science History Institute

Launch: July 2018
Client: Science History Institute

Launch: July 2018
Client: Science History Institute

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objectives

objectives

objectives

1

1

1

create an approachable and engaging experience in an otherwise dignified environment.

create an approachable and engaging experience in an otherwise dignified environment.

create an approachable and engaging experience in an otherwise dignified environment.

create an approachable and engaging experience in an otherwise dignified environment.

how

how

how

distinct appearance

distinct appearance

distinct appearance

distinct appearance

Signal a friendly, interactive experience in a space filled with precious historical relics.

Signal a friendly, interactive experience in a space filled with precious historical relics.

Signal a friendly, interactive experience in a space filled with precious historical relics.

welcoming

welcoming

welcoming

Design an interactive that feels welcoming and approachable to any visitor.

Design an interactive that feels welcoming and approachable to any visitor.

Design an interactive that feels welcoming and approachable to any visitor.

2

2

2

distill the institution's robust content into a digestible experience.

distill the institution's robust content into a digestible experience.

distill the institution's robust content into a digestible experience.

how

how

how

easy to use

easy to use

easy to use

Construct a seamless, intuitive user experience.

Construct a seamless, intuitive user experience.

Construct a seamless, intuitive user experience.

digestible content

digestible content

digestible content

Design a user flow and a guide for content curation to make the content easily digestible and navigable for non-expert users.

Design a user flow and a guide for content curation to make the content easily digestible and navigable for non-expert users.

Design a user flow and a guide for content curation to make the content easily digestible and navigable for non-expert users.

implementation

implementation

implement

1

1

1

create an approachable and engaging experience in an otherwise dignified setting.

create an approachable and engaging experience in an otherwise dignified setting.

create an approachable and engaging experience in an otherwise dignified setting.

create an approachable and engaging experience in
an otherwise dignified setting.

distinct appearance

distinct appearance

distinct appearance

distinct appearance

To signal "touch me" in a space filled with "don't touch," we cast 3D models of twelve everyday objects and colored them bright yellow. Instantly noticeable upon entering the museum, the familiar yet unconventional appearance of the objects piques visitors' curiosity.

To signal "touch me" in a space filled with "don't touch," we cast 3D models of twelve everyday objects and colored them bright yellow. Instantly noticeable upon entering the museum, the familiar yet unconventional appearance of the objects piques visitors' curiosity.

To signal "touch me" in a space filled with "don't touch," we cast 3D models of twelve everyday objects and colored them bright yellow. Instantly noticeable upon entering the museum, the familiar yet unconventional appearance of the objects piques visitors' curiosity.

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The Object Explorer is the first thing visitors see upon entering the gallery space.

The Object Explorer is the first thing visitors see upon entering the gallery space.

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Testing on our early prototype with dummy objects

Testing on our early prototype with dummy objects

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Discussing the ideal size of each cast object with our vendor in Philadelphia

Discussing the ideal size of each cast object with our vendor in Philadelphia

welcoming

welcoming

welcoming

Each object was deliberately chosen to be one that is familiar to any visitor. Upon detecting approach, a bright yellow, animated hotspot emerges to greet the user with a clear call to action message. Designed to comply with ADA standards, the Object Explorer welcomes users in wheelchairs as well as children. The table's seamless appearance gives way to four independent user zones at a time so that families and friends can enjoy independent exploration  alongside each other.

Each object was deliberately chosen to be one that is familiar to any visitor. Upon detecting approach, a bright yellow, animated hotspot emerges to greet the user with a clear call to action message. Designed to comply with ADA standards, the Object Explorer welcomes users in wheelchairs as well as children. The table's seamless appearance gives way to four independent user zones at a time so that families and friends can enjoy independent exploration  alongside each other.

Each object was deliberately chosen to be one that is familiar to any visitor. Upon detecting approach, a bright yellow, animated hotspot emerges to greet the user with a clear call to action message. Designed to comply with ADA standards, the Object Explorer welcomes users in wheelchairs as well as children. The table's seamless appearance gives way to four independent user zones at a time so that families and friends can enjoy independent exploration  alongside each other.

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2

2

distill the institution's robust content into a digestible experience.

distill the institution's robust content into a digestible experience.

distill the institution's robust content into a digestible experience.

easy to use

easy to use

easy to use

To avoid moments of confusion and guesswork around a non-traditional interface, we incorporated instructional text and overt, repetitive cues throughout the experience.

To avoid moments of confusion and guesswork around a non-traditional interface, we incorporated instructional text and overt, repetitive cues throughout the experience.

To avoid moments of confusion and guesswork around a non-traditional interface, we incorporated instructional text and overt, repetitive cues throughout the experience.

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digestible content

digestible content

digestible content

Working closely with the institution, we broke up their rich science history content into three story groups per object, themed science, history, and culture. In keeping with the core mission, we drastically condensed the content to create bite-sized stories that are accompanied by images and/or videos.

Working closely with the institution, we broke up their rich science history content into three story groups per object, themed science, history, and culture. In keeping with the core mission, we drastically condensed the content to create bite-sized stories that are accompanied by images and/or videos.

Working closely with the institution, we broke up their rich science history content into three story groups per object, themed science, history, and culture. In keeping with the core mission, we drastically condensed the content to create bite-sized stories that are accompanied by images and/or videos.

Exploring the content is a simple, two-step process. Placing the object on a hotspot unlocks a theme's stories, which can be browsed by tapping "next" or "previous" buttons. Tapping an image opens a popup, as does serendipitous “fun fact” tokens. Removing the object from the table ends the experience.

Exploring the content is a simple, two-step process. Placing the object on a hotspot unlocks a theme's stories, which can be browsed by tapping "next" or "previous" buttons. Tapping an image opens a popup, as does serendipitous “fun fact” tokens. Removing the object from the table ends the experience.

Exploring the content is a simple, two-step process. Placing the object on a hotspot unlocks a theme's stories, which can be browsed by tapping "next" or "previous" buttons. Tapping an image opens a popup, as does serendipitous “fun fact” tokens. Removing the object from the table ends the experience.

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