Connecting Stories Interactive
Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art
Capabilities
Focus Area
Client
The “Connecting Stories” exhibition opened on the Mall on April 29, 2023, at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C. “Connecting Stories” was designed to encourage visitors to explore the museum’s collection and develop personal connections to the stories and artwork preserved by the museum.
The interactive experience at the museum’s Freer Sackler Gallery offered visitors an engaging journey through the rich tapestry of Asian art, via a carefully curated selection of objects, images, maps, and interactive displays. Via a digital touchscreen and a colorful, animated projection, audiences could discover some of the symbols, patterns, and designs seen across the collection and learn about how their meanings change in different contexts. On a second touchscreen, National Museum of Asian Art staff and volunteers shared stories of their personal connections to objects in the collection.
We designed our two interactive pieces to enhance visitor engagement by deepening their understanding and appreciation of the gallery’s treasures. The first horizontal touchscreen unveiled the intricate motifs and symbols recurring across artworks, offering visitors an immersive exploration of their meanings and significance. The complementary vertical touchscreen panel invited audiences to explore the perspectives of gallery staff, tapping on headshots to discover their insights into selected artworks. Additionally, our motion design for the exhibit’s screensaver mode enhanced the space’s ambiance, projecting captivating visuals onto the gallery walls and ensuring an enriching and immersive experience for visitors.
Bridging the gap between audience and artifact, these interactive installations served as dynamic tools for deciphering and interpreting the complexities and cultural significance of Asian art. The experience fostered a deeper connection with the artworks, enriching visitors’ Freer Sackler Gallery experience.
Exhibition Teams
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Cultural Innovation
Lead Exhibition Design -
KASA Collective
Interactive Kiosks -
Kubik Maltbie
A/V Fabrication
KASA Collective
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John Kudos
Creative Director -
Robert de Saint Phalle
3D Creative Director -
Ashley Wu
Art Director -
Fay Qiu
Lead Designer -
Owen Febiandi
Designer -
Putu Yogiswara
Designer -
Imam Fadilah
Animator -
Muhammad Syamil Haqqoni
Designer -
Chris Manlapid
Lead Software Developer -
Joe Baker
Engineer (Informal) -
Jess Mackta
Project Manager
Kubik Maltbie
-
Thomas Miller
A/V Fabricator -
Donald Sweetman
A/V Fabricator
Americans Exhibition
National Museum of The American Indian
Capabilities
Focus Area
Client
Awards
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GDUSA 2018 American Graphic Design Awards
For the “Americans” exhibition at the National Museum of the American Indian, Kudos was tasked with the exhibition’s production design.
We showcased hundreds of graphics and artifacts representing American Indians from three centuries of American life, all gathered in six interconnected galleries in the southwest wing of the museum. Each gallery covered a familiar topic like Pocahontas, the Battle of Little Bighorn, Thanksgiving, and the Trail of Tears. We worked closely with Studio Joseph to ensure a clear typographic hierarchy and optimum production/installation methods for all graphic components across the various galleries and surfaces.
KUDOS Design Collaboratory
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John Kudos
Creative Director -
Ashley Wu
Designer
National Museum of the American Indian
Photography
- Thomas Loof
