SKIN Exhibit Interactives

Client:
The California Academy of Sciences museum

San Francisco, CA

2019

Two interactive apps for an exhibit about animal and human skin. The exhibit explores the science of skin, the range of skins in nature, the social impacts of skin color.

Race: A Shifting Idea interactive

In an exhibit about animal and human skin, this interactive screen discussed the relationship between skin tone and ethnic identity through the lens of the U.S. Census from 1790 — 2000.

Race: A Shifting Idea - Key Screens

  • 1. Attract screen. Silhouettes from the interactive have an animated and abstract skin graphic filling the shapes to mimic the changing content over time.

  • 2. Home screen. Visitors tap a photo to explore stories about the 7 individuals.

  • 3. GIF of all of the individuals included in the interactive.

  • 3. When an individual is selected, a popup has tabs for 5 census years with content about how identity and race didn’t always align. This example is the year 2000 census.

  • 4. When an individual is selected, a popup has tabs for 5 census years with content about how identity and race didn’t always align. This example is the year 1790 census.

  • 5. When an individual is selected, a popup has tabs for 5 census years with content about how identity and race didn’t always align. This example is the year 1930 census.

  • 6. Visitor poll about how the census could be changed. The blue box shares pros and cons of each of the 4 options.

  • 7. Visitor poll about how the census. The results update based on the visitor answers and indicate the number of votes cast.

In situ

Large touchscreen interactive installed in exhibit. There is accompanying graphics about the identity and the US census surrounding the kiosk.

Why Does Human Skin Color Vary interactive

UV world map shows visitors similarities between native people from the same UV exposure zone. focused on changes in melanin, folate and Vitamin D. The included video is by the scientist whose UV maps are used in the interactive. The close-up skin Illustrations and animations included match graphics used across the exhibit.

Why Does Human Skin Color Vary - Key Screens

  • 1. Attract screen. Silhouette map from the interactive with an animated and abstract skin graphic filling the shapes to mimic the changing content over time.

  • 2. Home Screen with hotspots on a world map organized by UV exposure. The bottom section has a video by the scientist and two buttons to explore contextual content.

  • 3. By selecting a high UV hotspot the map focuses on that region. The expanded content buttons now include a darker skin tone microscopic skin illustration.

  • 4. By selecting a low UV hotspot the map focuses on that region. The expanded content buttons now include a light skin tone microscopic skin illustration.

  • 5. By selecting a mid UV hotspot the map focuses on that region. The expanded content buttons now include a medium skin tone microscopic skin illustration.

  • 6. Expanded content about folate.

  • 7. Expanded content vitamin D.

  • 8. Video with the scientist whose research was used as the basis of the interactive. Lower third graphics for the video match the exhibit branding.

In situ

Large touchscreen interactive installed in exhibit next. There is a portrait wall mural and accompanying graphics about UV surrounding the kiosk.

Behind the scenes

User testing, process, iterative reviews

The Team

Andrew Sawyer – Visual Design & UX
Sarah Goodin – Content
James Davidson – Animation & Illustration
Josh Ause – Web Development
Kat Whitney – Photography
Kira Hammond – Video Production