Save Lumo

Museum Collection and Augmented Reality

Science communication with a twist: using digital technology, encouraging curiosity and allowing plenty of room for creativity. The aim of the Save Lumo project is to make Naturama's scientific museum collection accessible to children in a new way, using Augmented Reality (AR) and a specially developed "Serious Game". In this interactive adventure, animal specimens, fossils and plants are brought to life digitally and embedded in an exciting story. 

Co-creation with Children

The special feature: The content is created through direct collaboration with the target audience.

In workshops, children worked with the museum team to develop characters, puzzles and story elements. The app is continually tested and developed iteratively with school classes and young museum visitors, with participation at its core. This creates an immersive learning experience that is fun and promotes access to scientific knowledge and cultural heritage. 

Making the Museum Collection Tangible

Many people, especially children, are unaware that museums maintain extensive collections of thousands of additional pieces besides the objects on display. But why do we collect things? What stories are hidden in the objects? And how do they end up in the museum?

The augmented reality adventure at Naturama provides playful and informative answers to these questions. This makes science communication an experience that informs, inspires and encourages further enquiry. 

Expansion to Other Organizations and Content

The development of the AR game is supported by six other museums, each with a very different focus. Their expertise has been integral to the creative process from the outset.

The aim is to design the application in such a way that it can later be adapted to other content and infrastructures with minimal effort.

Thus, co-creation continues at the institutional level. This results in a forward-looking mediation format that benefits not only Naturama Aargau, but science communication in museums in general. 

Client: Naturama Aargau

Project Partners: cymmersion GmbH, Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Stiftung für Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte SKKG

Our Role: Idea, concept, assistance with fundraising, participation, storytelling, scriptwriting, design interface, scalability