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Exploring digital issues with physical exhibits
Interactive exhibits are powerful, performative acts that help us make sense of the world. Like rituals, they allow us to explore shared meanings and navigate the complexities of being human.
In today’s increasingly digital and often isolating world, finding meaningful ways to connect and understand shared norms has never been more urgent.
Incredibly proud of our product design students at Drexel University's for addressing this challenge through their exhibition, “Connection Not Found.”
Connection Not Found
Connection Not Found is a student-led exhibition that explores common digital challenges like miscommunication, privacy concerns, and information overload. By transforming these issues into hands-on, physical exhibits, visitors are prompted to think more deeply about their online experiences and share meaningful reflections.
This course is designed by Bamidélé Adio Elégbèdé (RitualShare) in collaboration with Drexel University (Prod 340 interdisciplinary studio), SAFELab (University of Pennsylvania), and Kaiser Permanente.
PMFA Framework
A framework for designing immersive experiences
Phenomenon: Identify challenges
Metaphor: Create relatable translations
Form: Develop physical prototypes
Action: Design meaningful visitor interactions
Recreating This Experience
Educators, museums, and design studios can easily adapt the PMFA framework to explore a range of issues. This approach brings abstract, digital topics to life and fosters more meaningful discussions about our connected world.
"How's Waldo?" - Information Overload
How do you know it's time to log off?
Phenomenon: Overstimulation in digital environments.
Metaphor: Where's Waldo
Form: Immersive dome with sensory elements and response wall.
Action: Search for Waldo while experiencing sensory overload then answer prompt on the wall.
Team: Ryan Yahata, Isabella Cuares, Kate Allinson, Kevin Nguyen
"Hey" - Miscommunication
What comes to your mind when you get a text that says 'hey?
Phenomenon: Misinterpretation of digital messages.
Metaphor: Text messages.
Form: Layered acrylic sculpture with fragmented text.
Action: As you move around the sculpture, uncover various translation of the text "hey"
Team: Hannah Watson, Kai Thompson, Morgan Tiziker
"Tube of Time" - Screen Addiction
What is your screen time?
Phenomenon: Digital time consumption through phone use.
Metaphor: Phone screen time report.
Form: Interactive tube with rotary pump and data collection wall.
Action: Turn the crank to fill the tube with water. Match your daily screen time with fun quotes. Place a pin on the data collection wall.
Team: Mecham Lopez, Clara Wawrzyn, Christopher Franklin
"I Spy" - Privacy & Surveillance
Are you being watched?
Phenomenon: Constant digital surveillance.
Metaphor: Like the childhood game "I Spy,"
Form: Surveillance camera system with control station.
Action: Move through the exhibition, then discover you've been recorded. Take control of the cameras yourself, experiencing both sides of surveillance. Complete tasks by looking around with the surveillance joystick.
Team: Rafael Bernstein, Eli Galdieri, Isaac Kreisman, Nathan Lee
"If people feel they understand the world around them, or, probably, even if they have the conviction that they could understand it if they wanted to, then and only then are they also able to feel that they can make a difference through their decisions and activities. Without this conviction people usually live with the sense of being eternally pushed around by alien events and forces." - Frank Oppenheimer
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