Friday, March 29, 2024
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Cinnabar Creates Interactive Eco Challenge Exhibit for Discovery Science Center

Los Angeles, California, USA –
Where can kids shop for dinner, sort the trash faster than a recycling worker, and clean out the garage, all in less than an hour?

Discovery Science Center (DSC), the popular children’s museum in Santa Ana, Calif., called on seasoned exhibit producer, artisan and fabricator Cinnabar Inc. to realize its concept for “Eco Challenge” – a fun and educational experience that marries authentically detailed themed environments to interactive video game technology and teaches kids about eco-friendly choices.

The exhibit, open since September, has already hosted thousands of children and been hailed as a success. 
“The children are immersed in an amazing environment full of realism and technology,” says Joe Adams, Discovery Science Center President. “We’re already hearing from parents that the message from the experience is being driven home.”
The project was born when Orange County Waste & Recycling (OCW&R) approached Discovery Science Center with the idea for the exhibit. The museum then turned to Cinnabar to help make the exhibit a reality.
Jonathan Katz
Jonathan Katz
“We were brought in and given the creative vision,” explains Cinnabar President Jonathan Katz. “With the museum’s guidance, we completed the design/build work and assembled a team to accomplish the completely integrated project, including longtime Cinnabar collaborator Mindi Lipschultz as media producer, and BBI Engineering for A/V systems and mechanical interfaces.”
As visitors navigate the three zones of Eco Challenge (Discovery Market, Race to Recycle and Eco Garage), they are greeted and addressed by the “Eco Crew” – six unique, digitally animated, 3D-rendered characters that appear, reappear and interact with visitors throughout the experience – showing up on a variety of digital displays from 52″ vertical monitors down to 15″ shopping cart screens. Lively, friendly and informative, the Eco Crew members reflect the diversity of their audience and address their viewers as equals while making an engaging, clear and passionate connection to what all of us can do to Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.
The exhibit centers around three keystone experiences, all media-rich and detail-laden:
Sandra
Sandra
Discovery Market is a life-size recreation of a grocery store, complete with computer-enhanced shopping carts. Eco Crew members help guide visitors through making the most ecologically friendly decisions while navigating the store.
The battery-powered shopping carts, scaled to the museum’s younger visitors, are equipped with touchscreen displays and handheld scanners. The user-friendly, intuitive interface lets visitors jump right into the experience The carts are engineered to be extremely durable, able to take the daily wear-and-tear dealt out in a supermarket and a hands-on science center.
Race to Recycle turns the concept of carnival-style horseracing into a trash and recycling sorting adventure. After a quick introduction from Eco Crew member Zac, who shows up on the screen console for each sorting station, kids select items off a moving conveyor belt and sort them into the proper bin to advance their waste truck along the racecourse.
Eco Garage recreates three typical household garages, along with the bevy of toxic items contained within. Armed with scanners, kids race the clock to pick items they think are hazardous waste. At the end, Eco Crew member Justin directs them to the nearest real-life hazardous waste processing facility.
“[Eco Challenge] is utilizing a first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-art exhibit to educate children and parents on the importance of making eco-friendly decisions for the long-term,” explains Adams.
 
The project was completed in less than a year – a feat which Katz credits to a clear vision from the museum and a cohesive team.
“A key part of our Integrated Creative Management (ICM) approach is to bring all the participants to the table at the beginning of a project. By identifying all the roles and our expectations at the onset, the project was able to move at a quick pace,” says Katz. “Additionally, ICM results in additional value and savings for the client- enhancing the risk/reward attractiveness of this production model.” The Discovery Science Center provided a clear vision for Cinnabar and Cinnabar in turn set in motion an effective collaborative production.
Already, the museum is seeing results from the team’s efforts. The exhibit has been a hit with school groups and field trips.
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About Cinnabar Founded in 1982, Cinnabar California, Inc. is one of the entertainment industry’s leading production and fabrication companies, providing specialty fabrication for television, film and themed venues. In recent years, Cinnabar has been at the forefront of developments that have seen the integration of innovative new approaches to the process and production of museum exhibitions. Operating from a 30,000 square foot production facility, Cinnabar is able to provide its clients a complete range of in-house design-build, project management, and manufacturing services. Cinnabar is a licensed General Contractor in California and Nevada, and has held GC registration in other states on an as-needed basis.  

About Discovery Science Center

Discovery Science Center is Orange County’s leading destination for hands-on science fun where guests can explore more than 100 interactive science exhibits. Blast off in the Boeing Rocket Lab featuring a real rocket engine, explore the planets in the Planetary Research Station and discover the science behind a puck in the Science of Hockey. Discovery Science Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating young minds, assisting teachers and increasing public understanding of science, math and technology through interactive exhibits and programs. For more information, call 714-542-2823 or go online at www.discoverycube.org.
Judith Rubin
Judith Rubin
Judith Rubin ([email protected]) is a leading journalist, content marketing specialist and connector in the international attractions industry. She reports on design and technical design, production and project management, industry trends and company culture. From 2005-2020 she ran communications and publications for the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). In 2013, she was honored with the TEA Service Award. She was development director of IMERSA and publicist for the Large Format Cinema Association, and has contributed to the publications of PLASA, IAAPA and the International Planetarium Society. Judith joined World’s Fair magazine in 1987, which introduced her to the attractions industry. She joined InPark in 2010. Judith earned a BFA from Pratt Institute. She has lived in Detroit, New York, Oakland, and now Saint Louis, where she is active in the local arts community.

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