Artifact displays open historical gateways for museum visitors, but digital add-ons like tabbed text or voiceovers often fail to engage, lacking the emotional weight that gives the object meaning. This project leverages XR and ambient storytelling to bridge that gap, creating a more intuitive and embodied connection between visitors and artifacts.

Drawn from research in edutainment and multisensory learning, I designed the installation to tell a non-linear story through sound and hands-on exploration. Visitors engage with both physical and digital touchpoints, uncovering fragments of the past in a way that feels personal, immersive, and self-directed.

Simplicity builds trust
Early iterations included multiple modes of interaction, but streamlining all interactions to hand-touch controls created a more consistent and intuitive experience, especially for users unfamiliar with XR. Reducing complexity made the installation feel more approachable and allowed users to focus on the story.

Plan for the future, not the technology
Although I was limited by constraints like budget and hardware, I focused on designing a strong conceptual foundation that could scale with future improvements. Prioritizing narrative flow, emotional clarity, and user comfort ensured that the experience could remain compelling, regardless of future technical upgrades. 

Owning the full pipeline brought clarity
From writing the story to designing, programming, and even mixing the audio, I oversaw every aspect of the project. Delivering clear diagrams and documentation of design decisions was key to making the transition from design and implementation smooth. This process gave me a stronger grasp of the communication and foresight needed to build a successful project, skills I now apply to better collaborate across disciplines.