Magian Design Studio worked with Liberty Science Center staff to design and produce engaging media experiences for visitors in a number of exhibits for the opening, in July 2007, of their expansion and Renewal project featuring nearly 300,000 sq ft of new exhibits.

Located inside the Infection Connection exhibit is a recreated subway car accommodating 22 visitors who experience a 13 minute theatre program. The program describes the way in which infection is spreading globally through major population movements in the modern day world. Displacement by war, easier travel, immigration, or tourism all contribute to diseases being carried rapidly from country to country.

Stories are told about Dengue Fever, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and Influenza or the Flu. Eight 50" plasma screens representing the windows of the subway car carry the four human stories while sixteen 37" LCD screens standing in for typical advertisements and provide information about the science of each disease.

Three life-size LED figures within the subway car show participants where the disease attacks the human body. Magian was responsible for all aspects of media production including script writing, casting, shooting and editing the multi-screened Infection Connection Express videos. Magian also designed and implemented the technical infrastructure and provided dynamic show-control software using the Magian DiAC system.

In addition, Magian also produced five touchscreen interactive programs for the Liberty Science Centre's Our Hudson Home and Communication exhibitions. Our Hudson Home interprets the estuarine wildlife and interrelationships between nature and humanity along the Hudson River.

The Communication exhibition explores human communication from a general to an individual perspective.

Magian produced a multi-screened interactive game, as well as the large projection video for the entrance of the exhibit. The interactive multi-screened game, What Else am I Saying, uses video and animation to test knowledge about communications human beings sense through body language. Presented in an amusing way, this experience also promotes multi-user learning.

Magian's Scope

• design and production
• technical infrastructure design
• numerous touchscreen programs
• multi-user touchscreen program
• award winning experiential theatre
• large scale video projection program
• content development and graphic interface design
• software development and on-site commissioning

Awards:

• Gold Muse Award by the American Association of Museums

Project:

Renewal Project & Infection Connection Express
Liberty Science Center

Location

New Jersey, USA