Conductive ink audio guides for The Smithsonian’s FUTURES exhibition.

Polyglot : The Smithsonian’s FUTURES Translator reinterprets the format of traditional exhibition guides to create an interactive, accessible and inspiring visitor journey in the five lingua franca of the future - English, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin & French.

Longlisted for a Dezeen Award, Polyglot imagines the four halls of the Smithsonian’s Arts & Industries building as a celestial map, reflecting a sense of journey, time and exploration. Maps are a lens through which we travel, painting directions onto the unknown, allowing us to see into the past and curate the present into temporary pathways. Whilst the exhibition itself was not designed as a linear experience, the nature of audio-guiding people through the exhibition necessitated a remapping that was sensical, accessible and welcoming. Polyglot encourages visitors to trace each hall as its own journey, orbiting around a central world- the Rotunda - reflecting both the physical layout of the exhibition and the interlinked content of each hall. Delineating each hall using highlight colours, line weights and cardinal motifs, the guides helped visitors intuitively navigate through the space. Using conductive print to make paper interactive, Polyglot encourages visitors to imagine a smart, technological future that still celebrates traditional materials, processes and craft to create a world that feels sustainable, hospitable and inviting, whilst the added interactivity offered an open, accessible and welcoming experience where visitors of different backgrounds could touch to hear content in their language.

Designed in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s curatorial and visitor experience teams whilst working at Novalia.