Concept

For the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History (UMMNH), Pendulee designed a backend and frontend solution for a Community Science Kiosk. The goal was to create a seamless transition between on-site learning and at-home engagement. This allowed visitors to contribute to real-world scientific research—from tracking biodiversity to analyzing historical records, all at the museum.

Therefore, our role focused on the user experience (UX) and visual storytelling, ensuring that the interface was as intuitive as it was educational.

Process

To ensure the museum staff could manage the platform without needing HTML or coding expertise, we collaborated on a custom backend strategy. Our interactive museum kiosk design included:

• Instructional Narrative Graphics: Surrounding the kiosk, we implemented clear, accessible graphics. They explain the “how-to” of community science at a glance, reducing the barrier to entry for first-time users.
• Stand-Alone Functionality: We designed the kiosk to run reliably offline. This ensures a stable, high-performance experience in a busy museum environment.
• Accessible UI Strategy: The interface was designed to empower individuals of all ages to contribute to large-scale datasets. This makes complex scientific questions approachable through clean, modern design.

By focusing on interactive museum kiosk design, we helped UMMNH leverage the collective power of its visitors, driving innovation and public awareness through a collaborative, digital-first approach.