Let's Play! New England Toy Stories
Heritage Museums & Gardens, 2020
Sandwich, Massachusetts
An exhibit for families about the history of toy design and manufacturing in New England
The entry wall welcomes visitors with introductory text and invites them to guess the identities of the colorful toy silhouettes along the base of the wall
The cases are color-coded by theme. The objects here were light-sensitive so we added a motion sensor to trigger this case's interior lighting.
Don't worry, this toy had the radioactive pieces removed before display
This timeline shows significant moments in toy manufacturing history in both New England and the greater US
Each section of the exhibit has an introductory label, quotes, and "Key Player" labels that spotlight individual New England toy designers
The client wanted a fun, nostalgic feel for the exhibit so I designed the cases to resemble mid-century modern furniture
Because the exhibit was about toys, the client wanted to focus on family audiences. I designed the large wall cases nice and low for small visitors. This height works well for wheelchair users as well.
We created a floor play zone for young visitors with low shelves they could access all by themselves
I chose comfy, colorful furniture to entice visitors to gather and play board games together