Client: The Strong National Museum of Play

Overview

This first-of-its-kind AR fundraising experience welcomes kids of all ages to The Strong National Museum of Play’s new Video Game Hall of Fame and interactive exhibit wing. Serving as both a permanent exhibit as well as fundraiser for the expansion, donors’ names are embedded into the augmented reality (AR) experience. Visitors can tap on the names to release unique, colorful butterflies that ascend to the tree and ceiling above.

Working closely with the Museum’s staff during design and production, NOVABY designed and crafted an experience that incorporated the museum’s rainbow color palette, served their fundraising purposes, and connected with the OLED art sculpture that hangs from the ceiling above. Located at the Museum’s new main entrance lobby, the experience also unifies the Museum by honoring one of their most popular exhibits – a live butterfly conservatory located at the opposite end of the site.

Donors have creatively used this opportunity to not only recognize their own donation, but also to honor and remember loved ones and those who have contributed to the Museum expansion and community.

Goals

Initially conceived as a mapping and identification tool for fundraising only, NOVABY recognized the opportunity to amplify these efforts and increase the Museums’ return on investment by reimagining the experience as a permanent, playful, interactive exhibit that could grow and evolve with the Museum while also accomplishing their fundraising goals. Towards that end: the following goals were identified and pursued: ensure ease of accessibility by locating the experience in the public lobby and requiring the use of mobile phones only; connect with the butterfly sculpture that is suspended from the ceiling above; and reflect the Museum’s brand, themes, and serious commitment to play.

Process

Over a period of approximately four months, NOVABY worked closely with the Museum’s team to design and create an experience that would accomplish their goals and be ready to launch at the Museums' grand re-opening. Leveraging NOVABY’s extensive background in creating world-scale AR experiences as well as building design and construction, a series of mock-ups and prototypes were used to custom fit the experience to the new lobby during construction.

Additional Information

The experience is accessible using visitor’s own mobile phones on the Hoverlay AR Platform.