Water Challenge

One of the most contentious issues in California is explored in “Water Challenge” at the Museum of Science and Curiosity in Sacramento, CA. In this signature exhibit visitors dive into California’s complex water system and explore the different ways in which water is used across the state.

The exhibit explores California’s water system by shedding a light on its history as well as the monumental effort that went into creating it. It also describes the many ways in which water is used today, the resource management behind it, and the impacts of individual decisions on both the water system and the environment.

I was given the opportunity to work on an all–new signature exhibit for the California Museum in Sacramento that explores the history of Chinese Americans in California from the Gold Rush to the present day.

“Gold Mountain: Chinese California Stories” tells the story of Chinese immigrants over the past 150 years. In their stories, visitors see the contribution that Californians of Chinese descent have made to the state’s economy, governance, and culture; all while triumphing over racism and other obstacles with ingenuity and perseverance.

Role

Lead 3D Designer + Director of Design

Role

Lead 3D Designer + Director of Design + Project Manager

Employer

West Office Exhibition Design

Employer

West Office Exhibition Design

Client

Museum of Science and Curiosity, Sacramento CA

Client

SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity, Sacramento CA

Team Members

Steve Wiersema (Principal)
Ozan Sirvanlioglu (3D Designer)
Henrike Yama (Graphic Designer)
Jonah Most (Content Developer)

Team Members

Steve Wiersema (Principal)
Ozan Sirvanlioglu (3D Designer)
Henrike Yama (Graphic Designer)
Jonah Most (Content Developer)

Duration

32 Months

Duration

32 Months

Size

3,100 sq. ft.

Size

3,100 sq. ft.

Photos

Photos courtesy of West Office.

Photos

Photos curtesy of West Office.

As the visitors walk into the space, they are greeted by a twelve-foot, three-dimensional map of California. This interactive experience allows visitors to explore the complexity of California’s water system and the challenges faced by the state.

An interactive projection gives visitors control over the wastewater treatment process and teaches them about the steps needed to make wastewater safe enough to be returned to the water shed.

A large interactive table provides visitors with the ability to create custom meals and see how much water they consume each day in the food they eat. They can then compare the total water cost of their meals with its nutritional density.

Visitors can explore several different wetlands across California and learn about the diverse groups of animals that call these environments home. They can then use the built-in camera to photograph the animals to reveal detailed information about each one of them.

Process

After wrapping up the concept development phase of the project, my involvement with the project decreased until it entered the final design stage. During the concept phase we developed the general layout of the overall experience, preliminary concepts for each exhibit, and overall outline of the narrative.

Once the final design phase began, I worked on refining the 3D design, finalizing the graphic design, confirming martials and colors, and finalizing the bidding documents.

Once the project entered the production phase my attention was split between fabrication monitoring, overseeing graphic implementation, and working with the rest of the team to finish the development of the interactive multimedia exhibits.