Creating Innovative Experiences..

Ontario Science Centre Over 40 Million visitors since opening in ,000 square meters public exhibition space 33% of our exhibition halls have changed 350 staff Self-contained exhibit development & fabrication Create and tour exhibitions internationally Hosting the World Science Congress in 2008

Changes….Co-Development of Experiences - Not typical exhibit development approach - New processes were needed – Include an educator in experience development teams /Evaluation OSC Vision Transform the way in which people see and think about the world around them. Expose the mysteries of life Show the wonders and possibilities of leading edge thought Translate complex information in ways that make learning fun

So, what is an exhibit?  Start with what it isn’t……….. It is not a lesson It is not universal It is not an end It is not isolated

An exhibit……. Is part of a conversation Has a context Has multiple outcomes Involves doing Involves learning Is about the user Is incomplete ……………is an experience. Is only a start

Ideas Cooper-Hewitt MIT MOMA Cal-Tech Local hardware stores NASA Ames Prada Flagship Store (NY City) Dupont R&D Centre Read a lot Play together Bring others in Visit others Personal Interests “Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they’re looking for ideas.” - Paula Poundstone Old ideas as raw materials

Tools Rapid Idea Generation Classical Brainstorming Sketching Blitz Prototyping Storytelling Improv collaboration

From Cub Cars to Racing Irons:

What Next? -Prototyping (Durability, Safety, Usability) -Design Drawings -Fabrication -Evaluation continues.. -Iterations

So what exactly do we do? Experience development ….. Is Collaborative Is Iterative Is Non-linear Is Experimental Requires testing, prototyping, designing, engineering……