Client: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Project: Arctic: A Friend Acting Strangely

inspiration

“An online version of the exhibit … will provide an actual and virtual public forum for a dialog among people, agencies, and groups interested in issues of environmental change for those concerned about the future of the Arctic and all who depend on it.”

-Arctic, A Friend Acting Strangely Exhibition Flyer

narration

In order to provide optimal usability and engagement for the online visitor, the contents of the exhibit space had to be carefully selected and adapted for the online exhibit. Rather than just a presentation of artifacts and scientific research, the online adaptation of the physical exhibit needed to convey the story of the changing nature of the Arctic and its impact on the communities and researchers who live there.

design

Night Kitchen Interactive collaborated with the Arctic exhibit and educational teams to ensure that the design and navigation of the online exhibit had a unique, yet complementary aesthetic to the existing Forces of Change portal. Pages rich with images, text, and media assets from the physical exhibit were designed with DreamWeaver templates in order to allow staff to update content as needed.

interaction

Night Kitchen Interactive implemented a commenting feature in key sections of the site to facilitate meaningful interactions between scientists and individuals interested in learning more about the impact of global climate change.