Planet Word Museum of Language
Planet Word is the world’s first voice-activated museum, housed inside the landmark Franklin School in Washington, D.C, built in 1869.
Agency
Local Projects
Practice Area
Client
Planet Word
Industry
The Challenge
Throughout the museum, visitors use their voices to interact with exhibits, while hearing from a diverse cast of leaders, authors, and orators who share what language means to them.
The museum features wonders like a smart paintbrush that lets visitors “paint with words,” a voice-recognition experience that brings visitors face-to-face with 30 native speakers and signers that renders the unique characteristics of their languages unforgettable, and a projection-mapped sculpture of over 1,000 words that tells the story of English as a continually evolving lexicon, shifting and growing as it encounters the world.
I’m Sold Advertising Gallery
Planet Word / Local Projects
Word Worlds
Planet Word / Local Projects
Voice-activated intro exhibit on where words come from
Planet Word / Local Projects
Voice-activated intro exhibit on where words come from
Planet Word / Local Projects
Retractable Chandelier
Planet Word / Local Projects
The Library
Planet Word / Local Projects
Magic Books
Planet Word / Local Projects
Project Details
I really enjoy how this exhibition can communicate in different ways. Whether it is through the user created sounds or projections, everyone is immersed in learning how to communicate with others.
A varied and highly accomplished series of spatial installations and rooms presenting a difficult and not particularly artifact rich world of language. We loved how this will open up the world of words, language, reading and the spoken word to a larger audience.
The use of many voice activated installations in context was certainly first in class and to be commended.
Language can be barrier to success. This museum offers visitors multiple ways of accessing language in innovative and compelling ways. It meets visitors were they are and makes space for different forms of expression and learning.
Design Team
Local Projects (lead exhibition designer, media designer)
Collaborators
Beyer Blinder Belle (lead architect)
Solomon Group (lead fabricator, av integrator)
Jeremy Bloom, My Active Driveway, Hypersonic & Zumm Studios (media production partners)
Photo Credits
Local Projects
Open Date
June 2021