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Toxic Europe
CONTEXT
University
Digital Exhibits – 4th Semester
Supervised by: Prof. Jens Döring, Prof. Marc Guntow
TEAM
Henri Kral
Anna Schneider
Gül Saritas
DATE
07/2022
Description
"Digital Exhibits" was a collaborative course with the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, where we developed Toxic Europe, an interactive installation about poisonous creatures in Europe. The project combined physical and digital elements through projection mapping and touch-sensitive interfaces to create an engaging educational experience.
A video showcasing the interactive Element of Toxic Europe.
The installation serves as a prototype for a larger exhibition concept exploring Europe's diverse toxic creatures. We developed a life-sized interactive stele featuring one poisonous species to demonstrate how visitors could engage with and learn about these fascinating but dangerous animals. Through this physical prototype, we showcased how the complete exhibition would allow visitors to discover various European toxic species through a combination of tactile elements, digital storytelling, and interactive features. The modular design of our stele system means it could be easily adapted to showcase different species while maintaining a consistent educational and interactive approach throughout the exhibition.
Technical Role and Contributions
As the technical lead in our interdisciplinary team, I:
- Developed and implemented the projection mapping system using MadMapper
- Created the interactive elements using Bare Conductive Board and copper foil sensors
- Contributed to concept development and hardware integration
- Supported the team with 3D rendering and visualization work
The project thrived through the collaboration of a diverse team, combining my expertise as a digital product designer and developer with two communication designers and an education student. This mix of disciplines proved invaluable: while I focused on technical implementation, the communication designers crafted the visual language and graphics, and our education student brought crucial pedagogical insights. The pedagogical expertise helped ensure the content was accessible and engaging for our target audience, while the mix of technical and design skills enabled us to create an effective interactive experience.
Physical Creation
The hands-on construction phase was a collaborative effort where our interdisciplinary team came together to create tangible elements. We laser-cut icons and illustrations from 4mm thick poplar plywood to create tactile, three-dimensional elements that would make the installation more engaging and accessible. The physical construction involved multiple techniques: foil cutting for headlines, adhesive foils for body text due to poor adhesion on MDF, and spray-painted accents in our highlight colors. The wooden skeleton was built using MDF boards and timber, with a projector and lighting mounted on the top plate. This physical crafting process allowed us to create an installation that engages multiple senses - visitors can see, touch, and interact with various elements, making the learning experience more immersive and inclusive.
