As part of a massive £6.8m transformation, the National Science and Media Museum set out to redefine how visitors engage with the history of photography, film, and sound. With over 500 exhibits on display, the goal was to create a hands-on experience that wasn't just educational, but deeply tactile and intuitive.

We were thrilled to partner once again with our long-term collaborators at Four Communications to design and produce two standout interactive installations for these newly opened galleries.

The "Sound and Vision" galleries require exhibits that can withstand high-traffic "hands-on" use while accurately demonstrating complex media concepts. Our task was to turn abstract ideas—like Foley sound production and temporal manipulation—into rugged, reliable, and engaging physical interactives.

The Foley Interactive

How do you create the sound of a crackling fire or a punch in a movie? This exhibit brings the art of the "Foley Artist" to the museum floor.

·         We engineered a tactile station where visitors can squeeze, hit, and scrape a variety of everyday objects.

·         High-fidelity sensors capture the physical input, triggering synchronized audio that demonstrates how unconventional items create the iconic sounds we hear on screen.      

Fast and Slow Interactive

Exploring the concept of time through a lens, this exhibit allows visitors to control the speed of reality.

·         Using a custom-engineered high-torque control wheel, visitors manually "scroll" through time.

·         By physically turning the wheel, users manipulate time-lapse and slow-motion imagery, revealing hidden details of the world that are usually invisible to the naked eye.

The transformed galleries offer a seamless blend of historic artifacts and modern interactivity. Our exhibits serve as key "touchpoints" within the gallery, ensuring that the science of media is felt, heard, and controlled by visitors of all ages.