Bitmorph is an interactive and educational check-point based hologram installation, created with the intention of driving foot-traffic to the lesser frequented areas of the Science Centre.

Upon visiting the first checkpoint the user receives a pass with a QR code on it. This code corresponds to their own personal hologram creature– for every checkpoint they visit and tap their QR code, their creature evolves another stage. Each checkpoint visited prompts the user to continue to a different location in the centre to further evolve their creature. Afterwards the user is able to visit the project website and view the creature they’ve created, with the option to share it with their friends.

The site analysis highlighted a space which experienced a large number of returning members and new visitors daily– primarily school trips and private education groups aged 6-12. In approaching this piece we knew we had to create something engaging but inclusive for large groups; additionally the experience had to have multiple outcomes, to maintain the interest of returning visitors. As a result we decided the randomized hologram method would work best as it was easily viewable for large groups as well as new and return visitors alike.

Having an educational aspect was a very important consideration during the project design phase. Through the user being able to evolve their creature we were able to showcase the ability of life to adapt to the environments they live in– for example if the user scanned their creature in the aquarium section of the centre it would grow fins. We constructed 5 checkpoints– all brightly colored to attract the attention of the visitors; each displaying simple straight forward instructions for interaction.

The installation was tremendously successful with 110,000 scans, 27,000 characters were fully morphed and 30% of visitors went to the website afterwards. The installation ran through July 2016 at the centre.