Chronohedron

From pure visual design to creative user research and app development.

I traveled to Greece and explored ancient ruins and museums. I used pencils, x-acto knives, the Ancient Greek language, and 3D paper crafts in combination with the digital wonders of the Adobe Creative Suite to explore ways we interact with history, science, and stories.   I played with museum apps, including virtual and augmented reality, and tested and interviewed users as they went through open ended tasks. 

I ultimately had a heck of a lot of fun, and if you want to understand the inner workings of my mind, this might be the place to start! 

Inside the spiral mask is the text from The Bacchae, an Ancient Greek play possibly performed at the theater at Epidarus.

Sketching and Moodboards

The Final Logo

The final logo is simple, but with the variations in color - purple, white, or a combination - can be combined in many ways.

Thinking of ways of translating physical spaces and objects to a digital space, I decided to explore this transition. 

If this were a physical museum, how would a one dimensional artifact like a brochure convey multiple meanings and experiences? 
Here the user can take the flat paper and cut and fold it to get an icosahedron - a three dimensional object. If the icosahedron were flattened, you would once again see the inspiration for the Chronohedron logo.

User Research: Museum Apps

Realizing how many museum apps are available, I decided to do usability testing on three very different apps to find out more about what users found engaging and educational.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

  • Evaluate best interactive for content
  • Integrate interactives into content themes
  • Usability is key to the success of a particular interactive
  • Use 3D models or augmented reality when it adds significant value to specific content
  • Images, text, and video content can be dynamic and engaging

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CHRONOHEDRON APP

  • Research best interactives for each content type
  • Focus on a mix that is integrated in focused themes
  • Make sure we are getting the biggest bang for our buck when we invest in using augmented reality, 3D, etc., and use other types of content where they best fit

Chronohedron: Hi Fidelity Mocks

 To experiment with how I might apply the research findings to exhibits in the Chronohedron app, I developed three ideas: 

The Bacchae at the Theater at Epidarus

A 360 view of the theater, it will integrate sound and a discussion of the mystery and science surrounding the acoustics of this ancient theater. The theater was buried by an earthquake hundreds of years ago, so some of the history could be explored using The Bacchae, an ancient play performed in the theater which features Dionysus calling to the Goddess of Earthquake to level the earth. 
The Monster of Troy Vase

An interactive tour of the art and images, this will connect mythology with science as it tells the story of Herakles and the Monster. The Monster of Troy is thought to be one of the first artistic depictions of a fossil, probably Samotherium, a giant Micene giraffe of Samos, Greece. 
The Antikythera Mechanism

An interactive 3D model of the remnants of the first computer, built to track astronomical events as well as the dates of sporting events and other important occasions. The Antikythera Mechanism was found in an ancient shipwreck, and has been reconstructed from corroded pieces of brass melded together that were found off the coast of Greece. 

Next Steps

This project is still in progress. I plan to do further user testing on the actual Chronohedron app, including interviews and further exploration of the types of interactions that would be engaging and educational on multiple levels.

Other Projects

Travel Camel

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