Chicago-based interactive design agency 15 letters Inc. has announced it will design a line of interactive, educational kiosks for the Chicago Botanic Garden's new 38,000 square-foot Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Center.
According to a news release from 15 letters, the deployment will include eight touchscreen kiosks, each designed with a workbench and speakers and featuring participatory games, videos and simulations. Each kiosk will be located in front of a glass wall separating the eight laboratories from the visitors gallery.
Mark Rattin, president and creative director for 15 letters, says the deployment is evidence of an interactive-education trend among museums and research centers:
The interactive exhibits are designed to be accessible to a broad audience and stimulate knowledge through play. … We created interactive, game-like simulations that will allow visitors to manipulate an environment and see the outcomes of their actions. This hands-on approach to education is becoming more commonplace as museums and research centers are encouraging the development of the next generation of scientists.
The kiosks each will be connected to a central content-management system, allowing the facility's scientists to edit and add new content at any time.
The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Center will open to the public Sept. 23.
