For one of my senior design projects, our semester-long assignment was to design a narrative-driven interactive exhibit for a museum on the University of Texas’ campus, the Stark Center. Leading a team of five, our project focused on the introduction of physicality to kids, and how physical education has been both beneficial and detrimental to children in the United States over time.
Concepts & Visual Development
As an interactive exhibit focusing on the juxtaposition of early phys ed to the phys ed of today, as a team we knew we needed to focus on that contrast, and make it as tangible as possible for the guests. Keeping this in mind, we designed three major modes of tech interaction, as well as including tactile modes of interaction to inspire a feeling of playfulness in the guests.
Visually, the exhibit was designed to elicit a strong sense of nostalgia, making use of color schemes and materials found in children’s phys ed equipment.
The technology available for guests to interact with in our exhibit would include:
A wall that allows them to train along with a digital video, to test out the workout routines children had to do in two different periods of time - one in the 1960s, when fitness was focused on training kids for war, and one in the 2010s, where children were given more choice and more wiggle room on the kinds of physical exercise they did.
Touchscreens, where guests would be invited to touch “artifacts,” (ex. vintage helmets, balls and jerseys) to the screens in order to learn more information about them, and how/why they changed form over the years.
Lockers that, once opened, would display screens that use AR technology to model vintage gym uniforms on the guest opening the doors. These lockers would provide information on how gym uniforms have changed over the years, especially when it comes to what girls in sports were allowed and not allowed to wear / do.
Lastly, guests would also have the chance to interact with some tactile playground and phys ed equipment, like a small slide, swing, climbing rope and hopscotch.
Exercise Routine Mirrors
AR Dress-up Lockers
Final Concept Art
Artifact Touchscreens
Along with concept designs for the technology in the room, I also worked on designing lighting fixtures that would fit with the theming - a hoola hoop stacked ring light, a glass ball lamp, and some jump rope LED string lights.
Light Fixture Concept Art
Initial Light Fixture Models - Modeled in Vectorworks
Final Renderings & Design Document
Left Isometric View
Right Isometric View
Left Rear Isometric View
Right Rear Isometric View
