Project Summary

Our museum exhibit is a mushroom playhouse for young children. The previous exhibit inhabiting the space was not getting much interaction from the kids. The space is a hallway with a fire exit and an elevator behind the children's playhouse. We decided we wanted to continue the house into that space. It consisted of a puzzle wall, crocheted mushrooms in small gardens, and a mushroom house as the main attraction. We used cardboard, white paint, and red paper. It was constructed with hot glue and attached to the wall using command strips and duct tape. The puzzle was a painting with small pieces of velcro, and in front was a basket of paper mushrooms that could be attached to the velcro.

The crochet mushrooms had velcro on the bottoms and a strip of painted green cardboard for the mushrooms to attach to.

Previous Exhibit Analysis

• The original exhibit was broken, and they needed a brand new exhibit to utilize and fill the space.

• The exhibits next to the area include the "Betty House" and the air tube exhibit downstairs, so considering certain elements from either one might be good so the exibhit doesn't seem too out of place.

• Needed to keep the design clear from the emergency exit and elevator.

• Also needed to make sure that if there were any loose pieces, it would be hazard-free and limit any risks if pieces were thrown down to the first floor

Learning Goal

To encourage imaginative and sensory play

Design Element/s

Interactive, Hazard Free, Wow!

Play Type

Independant Play & Parallel Play

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Precedents

Precedent #1

Using colorful and visually appealing components.

Precedent #2

Thinking about crocheted and soft materials, as well as different textures.

Precedent #3

Taking inspiration of an interactive wall and picking veggies

Initial Prototype

During the early stages of prototyping, we were thinking about how to relate to the imaginative feel and interactions of "Betty's House." (a neighboring play installation)

Using a simple yet compelling color scheme, this small prototype also explores the possibilities with different textures.

lalita

Iteration #1

Testing Prep

Goal:

• How different age groups interacted with the mushroom house and the mushroom land puzzle.
• The structure of the mushroom house
• The attraction of bright colors
• How kids interact with the different elements and which mechanisms do they prefer

Limitations:

• limited room inside the mushroom house
• limited space in nuvu
• flow and crowds

User testing at NuVu

• One discovery/ outcome is that different ages respond to the exhibit differently.
• Player 1(4 years old): She stayed in the house for around 20 minutes and found the puzzles and games very interesting, taking an imaginative route with her play. The mushroom house helped her relax and avoid the loud and crowded area.
• Player 2 (11 years old): He wasn't really interested in the puzzles and mushroom stayed under 2 minutes.

Method of testing

Outcomes

• Interviewing
• observing

Iteration #2

Goal: 



• Testing out the size and structure of the mushroom house in the actual space
• Picking & planting mushrooms, and observing if kids are interested
• mushroom land puzzle.

Limitations:

• During lunch time limited amount of kids in the museum

User testing at Discovery Museum

• When setting up the house, there were kids who were immediately interested about what we were putting up and doing. However, by the time we were done setting everything up the museum got significantly quieter because of the time of day.
• We had about 4 museum visitors and about 7 or 8 different staff members. We definitely got the "wow" factor, and from the staff's feedback, they thought it was a really cool idea.
• When talking to the staff, one thing they said was to maybe expand the painted mushroom/ puzzle wall. ~ This would make sure that the interaction element would be more seen and hopefully have even more of a "wow" factor and immersive experience.
• From the people who did come to ineract with the space, they all seemed quite interested in the crocheted mushrooms

Method of testing

Outcomes

• Observation
• Interviewing
• Recording

Iteration #2

Iteration #2

Final sketch

1. Top structure of the mushroom house

2. Bottom structure of the mushroom house

3. puzzle wall

5. Mushroom patches

4. Crocheted mushrooms

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Blueprints

Mushroom house top structure 1

Measurement of the space

Blueprints

Mushroom top structure prototype 1

Mushroom house structure 1&2

puzzle wall 3

User diagram

4. Crocheted mushrooms

3. puzzle wall

Mushroom house structure 1&2

Next Steps

• Start working on a final version of the interactive garden (3d printed pots, having a better attachment method for the mushrooms, etc.)

• Experiment with different materials for the mushroom house including wooden structures, different textured wrapping, etc.

• Expanding the mushroom land puzzle on the railing

• Creating pathways using carpet or wooden pieces on the floor ensuring no blockage to the emergency exit or elevator



• Wall murals that will attract kids to come and explore