Our Voices
An interactive digital spotlight experience using motion sensors to share children's insights through dynamic storytelling and data.
- Societal Issues
- Dynamic
- Perspective
The Auckland Museum and PHQ collaborated to create a digital experience inspired by research from the University of Auckland. Based on insights from 800 school children across New Zealand, the project explored their school experiences, relationships, and views on societal issues, offering visitors an engaging, immersive journey into young people’s voices and perspectives.
PHQ was tasked with transforming this significant research into an engaging, interactive Auckland Museum experience. Building on existing study assets, PHQ proposed two innovative concepts, both focusing on interactivity, connection, and personal reflection.
The selected approach used spotlight-based interactivity. Motion sensors detected when visitors stepped onto illuminated spots, triggering digital content to share insights, stories, and statistics directly drawn from the children's responses. Each activation offered a unique experience, weaving together data and storytelling to immerse visitors in the perspectives of young people. This dynamic approach created a thought-provoking and emotional journey, encouraging deeper understanding of the issues explored.
Evolution
- Interactive experience
- Storytelling
- Character Design
Conceptual images, design sketches, and technical prototypes
Interactive museum exhibition
Design & Data
- Motion Sensor
- Interactive
- Storytelling
To give visitors a window into what young people in Aotearoa think about key social and cultural issues, PHQ transformed meaningful research into a visually compelling, immersive, and interactive format. The voices of New Zealand youth were amplified through colourful spotlights and directional sound, showcasing diverse perspectives on important issues.
Spotlighting perspectives
A dynamic way to explore societal issues, enabling users to interact with characters through projection, movement, and sound, enhancing immersion and emotional connection.
Kinetic control
Multiple museum visitors can engage at once, standing on spotlights which trigger animations and voice clips of youth and their experiences.
Data visualisation
From the 800 youths who participated in the University of Auckland's research, the data is presented in an easy-to-grasp format, allowing both children and adults to understand the perspectives of the future generation.
Video
- Visualisation
- Future generation
- Perspective
PHQ partnered with Auckland Museum and the University of Auckland to develop an interactive spotlight experience, using motion sensors and voiceover audio to amplify youth perspectives through dynamic storytelling and data.
Visitors activated digital content by stepping onto illuminated spots, where motion sensors triggered insights, stories, and statistics directly based on research from the University of Auckland.
Exploring the lives of 800 children, the project offered a vivid look at their school experiences, relationships, and societal perspectives, bringing their stories to life in an immersive and engaging way.
