Hybrid Museum Exhibit Design

Brief

Identify one issue, related to climate change or the Anthropocene and design an intreractive exhibit to display at CMU's Miller Gallery with the goal of getting people to positively change their behavior around a current issue. Consider how the use of technology in the exhibit can augment content, increase learning and make the museum experience more interactive.

Skills

Parti Diagramming
SketchUp Modelling
Storyboarding
Interaction Design
Animation

Project Overview

Duration: 3.5 weeks

Role: Environements designer

Problem Statement

With most of the world population living in urban jungles made of concrete and stone, the flower population has plummeted. This, combined with the use of pesticide, the consequences of climate change, and the disruption of insects’ natural habitats, has resulted in a drastic decline of the insect population. The lack of flowering in cityscapes makes it hard for pollinators to continue the process.

Matilde Boelhouwer is a writer, designer, and insect enthusiast from the Netherlands, and and she collects, observes and studies plants and insects with fascination. Working like a biologist and doing research, she tries to design for modern-day issues like food shortages, sustainability, and climate change. Food for Buzz is a series of artificial 3D printed flowers she designed that collects rainwater, mixes with sugar and gives insects in cities the ability to fly to the next flower. These flowers serve as emergency food sources for pollinators, namely bees, bumblebees, and hover flies.

One of her main concepts is to translate her natural observations into conceptual and speculative design. Her goals are to make people conscious about the importance of the nature surrounding us, and how humans largely have an impact on their environment. Her handmade artificial flowers offer a new way to encourage pollination in cities, and their artistry and craft reflects her fine level of care and detail to insects and their habitats.

Summary

This exhibit introduces a relevant current issue regarding climate change and the impact on the pollination process to viewers. The exhibit also highlights an interesting artist and her work in order to inspire people to the next steps they can take in their own cities to contribute to the pollination process. Walking through the museum, viewers will learn about the artist, see images of her work, learn about climate change through an interactive, light-up, infographic, learn about plant species in the Pittsburgh area, and answer a digital questionnaire that informs them about the current impact their daily lifestyle habits have.