MediaCity-based creative studio Fuzzy Duck has delivered around 60 digital AV experiences for the newly opened Eureka! Science + Discovery Centre on the Wirral.
The studio is no stranger to museums and the heritage industry, having supplied audio-visual exhibits to attractions such as the Paris St. Germain Experience, St Andrews World Golf Museum and the Science Museum. But it says that working on the Eureka! Centre has possibly been its biggest challenge to date.
The project combined the Duck’s love of storytelling with the challenge of finding creative ways to appeal and engage the younger audience. Drawing on the team’s experience of creating content for the likes of the BBC’s Blue Peter and the W5 Science Museum in Belfast, Fuzzy Duck set about explaining complex scientific concepts in an engaging, imaginative and fun way.
Liz Peniston, content experience director for Eureka! Said: “The creation of the many and varied digital assets for Eureka! Science + Discovery was always going to be a big ask and Fuzzy Duck stood up to the challenge brilliantly. Through the development stages, working with the client team and the groups of young co-creators provided great opportunities to develop authentic, exciting, engaging and in some cases, really beautiful digital experiences.”
The former Seacombe ferry terminal on the Wirral is home to Eureka! Science + Discovery – a second attraction for Eureka! following the success of The National Children’s Museum in Halifax. This new hands-on attraction is aimed at young people up to 14 years of age and is made up of three exhibitions – Bodies, Homes and Nature, plus two event spaces which focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths. There is also an exhibition especially created for the under 7s.
Through the development process many local young people have been involved in co-creating the content as well as featuring in the exhibitions themselves. The Fuzzy Duck team have worked with contributors from schools and colleges as well as local charities for young people in many of the films they have created for the digital interactive experience.
Project manager Lucy Devane joined Fuzzy Duck at the beginning of the project: “It’s been a real joy and a pleasure to work on such a playful and creative project, and a privilege working with young people to tell their stories. Around every corner of the attraction are things to see, hear, touch, play, explore and learn. I love the craftsmanship and creativity which goes into every single detail,” she said.
In true Eureka! style, there are wide ranging themes within the exhibits, to guarantee that everyone will be engaged and entertained. Visitors can design their own toothpaste packaging in ‘Homes’, or interact with a cheeky bot in the ‘Innovation Hub’, or just enjoy the beauty and sounds of nature in the immersive Nature Den.
The content has been created with subtle surprises which visitors might not notice initially, with the aim ODF encouraging return visits to experience something new. Eureka! Science + Discovery Centre is open to the public now, and the purchase of a full price ticket gives free admission for a year, so you can go back and see what you missed the first time!
