Promised Land as Proving Ground

Development of interactive digital experiences for the Promise Land as Proving Ground (PLPG) exhibit highlighting African culture influence on the modern understanding of culture in the United States. The exhibit support the interpretation of the customs, struggles, and choices made by the early inhabitants of the U.S. state of Indiana, commonly referred to as Hoosiers - a term used for the pioneers and settlers in the history of the state.

For PLPG exhibit, VGI developed an interactive map interface that visually represents the current status of the Sundown Towns in contemporary Indiana. A second digital experience showcases four testimonial videos exploring the theme of Expressions of Faith within the community.

Client: Conner Prairie

PLPG Sundown Towns

Visitors to the exhibit at Conner Prairie can immerse themselves in the rich narrative of Sundown Towns in modern Indiana through a captivating interactive map interface. VGI created and deployed the application, extracting information from an existing database that can be updated as required to reflect the latest information regarding the statuses of the various cities showcased in the map. The user experience includes a countdown clock triggered by a few minutes of no-touch detection and an attractor loop illustrating the theme of the kiosk to visitors.

• Exploring Indiana

  The interactive map interface allow visitors to zoom in, zoom out, and pan across the map for a detailed exploration within Indiana's state boundaries. A color-coded key is integrated into the map to visually differentiate between the cities' statuses: Possible, Probable, and Surely.

• The Term Sundown Town

  Sundown Towns refer to communities in the United States historically associated with discriminatory practices that discouraged Black individuals from staying after nightfall.

• The Map Application

  VGI designed the interective application to run on a small form-factor computer connected to a large touchscreen display mounted on a public kiosk. The map functions entirely offline and independently of internet access.

PLPG Expressions of Faith

Our collaboration with Conner Prairie also involved creating a digital interactive interface showcasing videos from local religious leaders exploring diverse expressions of faith. The experience is accessed through a touchscreen display within the gallery, allowing visitors to learn from religious leaders representing Christianity, Ifa-Orisa, Islam, and Judaism. An attractor loop activates when there is no touch detected on the screen, providing visitors with insight into the nature of the experience.

• Multimedia Experience

  The audio-video application features dynamic menu selection and seamless video transitions, incorporating cutting-edge techniques in video editing and user interface design for an enhanced user experience.

• Lightweight Content Playback

  The application features an elegant menu selection design that replicates the capabilities of robust hardware solutions, while operating on a compact and high-performance media player, commonly utilized in world-class museum galleries.