What: 
FG was hired by world renowned museum planning and design firm Ralph Appelbaum Associates to produce, design and program 16 kiosks, 4 animations and 1 video for the Rose Center for Earth and Space at the Hayden Planetarium.

When:  1999

Project Challenge: 
Our task was to explain and illuminate discoveries of astrophysics – examining how the universe evolved into galaxies, stars and planets from the Big Bang to the present.

How did we do it?
We worked closely with the museum’s curators and astronomers to ensure a unique and accurate representation of the complex data supplied by the museum. The kiosks were designed to be engaging for, and easily navigated by, a range of audience ages – from ages 6 to 86.

The project required the creation of a model for the formation of the universe, galaxies, stars and planets. FG created the model in Macromedia’s Director 8 and built it in After Effects, which brought a “real world” quality to the graphics.

We also produced entirely original animations in Director using 50,000 sprites, some clever arithmetic and After Effects to give the graphics perspective and authenticity. Our careful marriage of high-end technology and design with detailed information architecture allowed us to represent 13 billion years of cosmic history in a logical and entertaining manner.