Connecting stories across a city and its museum

The Paterson Museum tasked Night Kitchen Interactive with creating an interpretive touchscreen that would teach visitors about the many innovators, inventors, artists and communities that have called Paterson home. The result was People of Paterson, a lightweight and portable touchscreen exploration of a richly textured digital mural featuring some of Paterson’s greats. It is available both on-site at the Paterson Museum, and online as an in-browser activity. The experience supports up to four different languages reflecting the most common dialects in Paterson.

The illustrated backdrop features 55 portraits and artifacts that, when tapped, provide interpretation about the city's most notable stories. They are arranged in groups denoted by silk pennants, a visual motif that celebrates “Silk City's” history as a leader in the textile industry. This interface encourages visitors to browse freely while gaining an understanding of Paterson's history and diverse communities today.

Tapping on any of the hotspots opens an information panel that introduces the individual and their contributions to Paterson, highlights related artifacts found in the museum, and links to connected profiles. These panels are designed to be approachable for a wide range of ages and levels of prior knowledge. Together, they allow visitors to build an understanding of Paterson’s history one story at a time.

A visitor might learn about Samuel Colt and his development of the iconic Colt revolver through the mural, then encounter real artifacts of that invention elsewhere in the gallery. People of Paterson is a digital guide that is available on-site and online through the Paterson Partnership's website. Together, the mobile-responsive website and lightweight kiosk provide a portable, flexible gateway into the history of Paterson, New Jersey.

To see more examples of how we've used digital murals to engage audiences, read about our Blacktip Reef Interpretive Touchscreens and Camden City Hall Interactive Mural.