With Asia Society Texas, our overarching mission was to foster cultural understanding and human connection through this engaging exhibition. We aimed to ignite curiosity and emphasize the shared commonalities among all visitors, transcending boundaries and celebrating the beauty of Asian art and culture. We created multiple immersive experiences that would be a permanent staple in the Texas center where visitors can travel across 5 Asian countries: China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam, while learning and interacting with each country along the way. This ambitious project consisted of six interactive sections, carefully designed to educate and captivate the audience. One notable component, "Gateway to Asia," featured touch screens that transported visitors virtually to various Asian countries, providing intriguing insights into each nation's distinctive attributes.
Company: Potion Design
Senior Producer: Claire Bradley
Producer: Kristine Lin
Creative Directors: Myles Bryan, Christian Browne
Lead Designer: Christian Browne
Designers: Hector Rivera, Ziwei Ji
Tech Director: Packet 39
Lead Developers: Packet 39, Braxton Collier
Partnering Agencies: C&G Partners, loyalkaspar
As the Producer of the Explore Asia project, I played a pivotal role in crafting an immersive and educational journey in collaboration with the Senior Producer. My responsibilities encompassed guiding the development and design team to align with Asia Society's educational and institutional objectives. I led the coordination efforts with the client, establishing a comprehensive content matrix that served as the foundation for the content management system (CMS). Additionally, I facilitated coordination with AV/Hardware and Fabrication teams during the onsite installation phase. To ensure the highest quality, I conducted thorough quality assurance testing for each interactive element. Furthermore, I authored and delivered the CMS training sessions for the client.
At the start of the exhibition, "Gateway to Asia," featured touch screens that transported visitors virtually to various Asian countries, providing intriguing insights into each nation's distinctive attributes.
Photo by Chris Dunn, Asia Society of Texas
A unique addition to the exhibition was the digital food exploration table, which introduced Asia Society visitors to an array of delectable dishes from more than 50 local Asian restaurants and grocery stores in Houston. This not only celebrated the culinary diversity but also served as a platform to support and promote local Asian American businesses, by allowing the visitors to quickly scan a QR code for a corresponding restaurant.
Photo by Chris Dunn, Asia Society of Texas
The drumming experience was carefully designed to offer visitors a unique and hands-on interaction with Asian culture. The visuals on the screen represented significant cultural motifs and animated artwork that corresponded with an upbeat hybrid of traditional and contemporary music for each of the 5 countries. It allowed guests to participate actively, creating a memorable and immersive moment within the exhibit.
Photo by Chris Dunn, Asia Society of Texas
"The Mist of Intentions," located on the second floor of the exhibit, aimed to provide visitors with a thought-provoking and introspective conclusion to their journey. This experience emphasized the importance of human connection and commonality, encouraging visitors to reflect on the shared values that transcend cultural differences. It was a poignant way to conclude the exhibit, leaving visitors with a sense of connection and understanding.
Photo by Chris Dunn, Asia Society of Texas
