National Museum of American Jewish History

As part of Local Project's creative team, I animated six out of eighteen films for this Hall of Fame exhibit, featured in the National Museum of American Jewish History lobby (Philadelphia, PA). Other responsibilities on the project included conducting motion and scale tests.

Only in America (Singer)

Only In America (Einstein)

American Museum of Natural History

As part of the AMNH Exhibit Department team, I designed and animated 2D graphical and typographical overlays on the projection component of this Muse Award-winning interactive for the American Museum of Natural History's Horse exhibit (now traveling internationally).

The project involved visualizing the vision and hearing abilities of horses based on scientific research, creating seamless loops of the horse video that react to user interactions, and conducting scale, motion, and color tests.

Biology of the Horse

Where Animals Live

Where Animals Live is a portable exhibit that gets kids ages 4 to 7 excited about geography and wildlife, through physical exploration of a giant world map. It is a roaming experience that pops up in parks, playgrounds, museums, classrooms, block parties, malls, and any community space that invites it for a visit.

Participants explore a 20 ' x 12 ' world map and use clues to help lost animals return home, while becoming familiar with continents, oceans, and habitats. Electronics embedded in the animals provide real-time tactile and sound feedback when the creature is placed correctly. Young explorers walk away with collectable cards about their favorite animals, which can be used for deeper learning online.

An accompanying website prepares kids for the adventure through practice exercises and encourages deeper learning after the in-person activity.

The idea was inspired by the Hall of Biodiversity in the American Museum of Natural History. It draws on the principles of Embodied Learning and the Cognitive Load Theory, as well as conversations with parents and educators.

A smaller-scale (10' x 6'), non-electronic prototype is currently being play-tested with young animal enthusiasts. Highlight appearances include the Brooklyn Children's Museum, the Prospect Park Zoo, and the Sneak 'Peak' festival at Staten Island's Freshkills Park.

Original sketch inspired by the "wall of creatures" at the AMNH Hall of Biodiversity.

A frame from the first concept deck.

To place the animal, kids look for the continent color and name on the back of the creature, and match it to a sticker on the correct continent. In the electronic version of the project, the sticker will contain an RFID tag.

The responsive electronics inside the animal give real-time audio and tactile feedback for correct placement on the map.

Designs for some of the animals currently used in the paper-prototype for play-testing. The creatures are printed double-sided (with clues on the back) and laminated.

I hand-made the smaller-scale prototype using puzzle mats, by projecting 2' x 2' sections of the map onto each mat, tracing it, and painting with acrylics, which binds strongly to the EVA material.