The Independence Seaport Museum’s new cornerstone exhibit River Alive! shares with visitors the science and beauty of the Delaware River Watershed. Bluecadet partnered with Habitheque to create an experience that blurs the line between education and play—making it fun for kids to learn about the water right outside the museum’s walls.
Bluecadet is an experience design agency that works with mission-driven organizations to educate, inspire, and entertain.
Independence Seaport Museum deepens the understanding, appreciation, and experience of the Philadelphia region’s waterways, connecting community and visitors to the region’s rivers and watershed through exhibitions and programs featuring history, science and art, plus experiences on the water.
As part of a larger exhibition concept, Bluecadet developed a kid-focused, physically and digitally accessible suite of interactive products and environmental graphics that appeal to children of all ages and abilities. Products and offerings include the exhibit’s style guide, logo, and branding, as well as multiple innovative interactive experiences, described below:
“Restoring a Watershed”: Using interactive sensors, visitors blow, spin, and drum to clean the digital waters of a 32-foot long projection of the watershed—and meet the friendly creatures that call it home along the way. We illustrated and animated over forty river creatures to bring the contoured wall to life. Animated characters dance to custom music and colorful lights in Party Mode, visitors’ reward for cleaning the whole river. Sensor design and fabrication by Creative Machines.
“Using Data to Understand and Improve a River’s Health”: A multi-user touchscreen teaches kids about the science behind the river’s health with engaging activities and interactive animations.
“Mapping a River’s History”: Set into a larger map of the watershed, a touchscreen takes visitors on a deep dive into the river’s history.
“Personalizing Connection to River Life”: Our personality quiz builds connection and commitment to the watershed by matching visitors with their “River Hero” and related local organizations.
“A Visual Ecosystem”: we created a style guide that includes a hand-painted font, logo, and color palette that establishes a kid-friendly, approachable tone for the exhibit and its marketing materials.
River Alive! was brought to life with the help of the below project partners.
PROJECT DIRECTOR, CREATIVE LEAD
Habithèque Inc.
ARCHITECTURAL & EXHIBIT PLANNING & DESIGN
Hands On! Studio
Stemann & Pease Architects
CREATIVE CONTENT, MEDIA DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Handymakes Studio
Bluecadet
EVALUATION
Rachel Becker-Klein and Chris Hardee, PEER Associates
INTERACTIVE MEDIA COMPONENTS
Bluecadet
Azavea
CURRICULAR GUIDE
Rose Schlenk
Barbara Bjerring
SPECIALTY EXHIBIT FABRICATION
Creative Machines
GRAPHIC DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION
Bluecadet
Handymakes Studio
COMMISSIONED ART INSTALLATIONS
Stacy Levy
Will Owen
Lexy Ho-Tai
Nick D’Amico
Keith Hartwig
James Ijames
MEDIA INTEGRATION
- B. Frazer Company
ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
- B. Frazer Company
FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION
B Fabrication
Cavo Design Build
ARCHITECTURAL RENOVATIONS
John Alberto General Construction
Metropolitan Contract Carpets, Inc.
SCIENTIST ADVISORY GROUPS
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
Stroud Water Research Center
Philadelphia Water Department