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Exploring pirate science with an interactive mobile laboratory
Exhibit Design · Fabrication
L.A.-based non-profit Onward Industries is opening their very first physical space on Catalina Island where they can host events and activities that promote ocean conservation and stewardship. To attract visitors, I designed and fabricated a series of interactive exhibits that teach kids and their parents about the natural forces that govern the seven seas – all for under $1,000.
Challenge
Introduce local youth and their families to Onward Oceans, promote summer programming, and support fundraising efforts.
Strategy
Engage visitors with hands-on experiments, activities, and demonstrations illustrating the scientific principles utilized by pirates throughout the age of sail.
Discovery
Engraving of “The pirate own book” 1837
What’s Blackbeard got to do with ocean conservation?
Buccaneers were forced to be profoundly aware of the ocean’s patterns and be incredibly resourceful to navigate them. The pirate P.O.V. provides a rich and engaging platform to explore the natural sciences that move the seas – as well as the human-made inventions created to survive them.
And also, pirates are fun.
Concept
Exploring exhibit ideas
After reading books, listening to podcasts, and scouring forums on the history of piracy, I identified 30 or so inventions and scientific principles that could be demonstrated through installations and got to sketching.
Testing the concept with a mini-museum-mobile
In order to generate a buzz and gather early feedback, we decided to small and prototype a scaled-down version of the exhibit that could be brought to farmers markets and public spaces before the brick-and-mortar location was ready. I worked with the organization to select four exhibits from the initial pool of concepts, and configure them to fit on a vendor-style-cart that could be towed around by bike.
Prototyping
CAD modeling
Once we aligned on the concepts that were worth pursuing, I translated my sketches into 3D models and began blocking out how the individual stations would fit together into one cohesive piece.
Rough and ready prototypes
Next, I built low-fidelity mockups of the exhibits to test materials and work out the mechanical relationships at-scale.
Assembling the cart
With the individual interactions in working order, it was time to unify the exhibit. Primary constraints included a compact footprint and minimal weight in order to be easily towed by a bicycle.
Refinement
Building a narrative with color + material + finish
The goal of the PirateLab was to make visitors feel they become scientists deputized to investigate the ancient relics of pirate history. With that in mind, I selected technical fonts, angular patterns, and sterile, industrial materials like chrome hardware and acrylic.
To align the cart with Onward Industries’ natural outdoorsy brand, we retained the earth-tone color palette and smooth wood structure.
Expanding the universe
Supplemental artifacts like treasure maps and personalized access cards enrich the in-person experience, and provide guests with a way to bring part of the exhibit home with them.
Evaluation
Putting the cart prototype to the test
It was time to see how the mobile PirateLab would stand up to the subject matter experts – kids. Following a beach cleanup organized by Onward Industries, 30+ kids age 2-13 and their families were invited to play with the exhibit. The initial reception was fantastic, with some kids (and more than a few parents) staying engaged with the activities for over an hour.
Lessons learned in the field
I learned a TON from watching visitors get their hands on each station – from the surprising ways that verbiage or graphics were interpreted, to the creative ways a component could be manipulated and ultimately destroyed. Some precocious young visitors even shared their ideas on potential improvements with me directly. The majority of my learnings fit into four categories:
Getting a mechanism to be operational can be more fun and educational than operating it.
When a puzzle’s solution is unclear, everything becomes a clue.
If it’s not bolted down, it will be removed – by force if necessary.
If a parameter is flexible, it will me flexed to its utmost limit.
Next steps
Test, iterate and scale up
The mobile PirateLab will continue touring local public events this summer. Based on feedback from visiting families, we’ll determine how to make each station more robust and engaging, and which activities are worth scaling up for the full-sized exhibit on Catalina island.
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