Enginuity

Topic: Technology

Museum: Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust Focus: Science
Collaborating Organization(s): IBGT
People who worked on this: david ferguson (getting the project open), John Apanites (exhibits), scot ross (graphic design), steve Challen (content expert), Steven Bashford (consultant)
My role: I was the Design Director and key exhibit developer for the project, managing the client , budget , schedule and the day to day design process.

Description and goals

Enginuity is an interactive design and technology centre in Shropshire, UK. It is the newest of the ten museums operated by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and was opened in 2002. The museum’s exhibition floor is divided into four zones: Materials & Structures, Systems & Control, Energy and Design. Enginuity also offers workshops and interactive shows for school groups. During school holidays, the interactive shows are offered to the general public on varying themes.
Contents
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Development process and challenges

Our design team worked closely with the client, their consultants and the architect to develop a cohesive experience within a challeging 18th century building. The client challenged us to develop one of a kind interactives and experiences that would be in keeping with the spirit of the valley which was the birthplace of the industrial revolution. They opened their extensive collection of objects, engines,locomotives, etc, and allowed us to use them in interactives, animations and cut-aways
Lessons learned, mistakes we made (and what we did about them)

Never under estimate the publics interest in old and curious technologies- in the end we developed several unique exhibits and experiences- our favorite being the faux x-ray interactive where guests can see what a number of everyday objects are made of. This exhibit won an award for being the best new family attraction in the UK for 2002

This is the x-ray exhibit

This is a "Controls exhibit" guests learn to manage the watershed, generate electricity, etc.