Miswak - Taking Care
Design, build and evaluate an interactive tangible interface for cultural storytelling through co-creative practices.
CLIENT:
The Danish National Museum
ROLE:
Designer, workshop facilitator, testing
TECHNOLOGIES USED:
Blender, Millumin, Qlab, Ultimaker Cura
Problem
The National Museum in Copenhagen sought to create an interactive exhibition that would allow visitors to meaningfully engage with cultural artifacts through technology. The chosen object, the miswak, had a rich historical and ethno-graphic background, but the challenge was how to convey this complexity in an interactive, educational, and engaging manner, particularly for younger audiences.
Reseach
The project drew on theories of informal learning and tangible interaction, emphasizing the need for interactive installations that combine physical and digital elements. Co-creation workshops were held with museum staff to design an installation that avoided isolating screen-based interactions, instead focusing on embodied and sensor-driven experiences.
Solution
A hybrid system was developed using pick-up sensor technology. Visitors could interact with 3D-printed objects, triggering audiovisual content that told different stories related to the artifact. The installation created a multisensory experience designed to attract and engage diverse audiences, encouraging them to explore the cultural and historical significance of the miswak through physical interaction.
