About the Project

After the Age of Dinosaurs: Green River Interactive Audio Gallery

The Field Museum wanted to bring the Green River fossil collection to life in a way that would go beyond static display cases. The challenge was to design an experience that could immerse visitors in the vibrancy of post-dinosaur ecosystems, bridging the gap between ancient fossils and the dynamic living world they once represented.

I led the creative direction for the Green River interactive audio gallery, shaping a multi-sensory environment where sound, art, and fossils worked in harmony. To create interactivity, I developed a system where visitors walking across animal-shaped gobo lights triggered 11 distinct sound effects—from the calls of birds and bats to the croak of frogs and the movement of crocodiles and dragonflies. Each sound was paired with nearby fossils, creating a direct connection between the echoes of ancient life and its preserved remains. To enrich the atmosphere, I collaborated with composer Jesse Solomon Clark, who composed an evolving soundscape that served as the natural backdrop, weaving individual triggers into a living ecosystem. Artist Jay Ryan contributed a painted mural of Green River animals, which we enhanced with hidden speakers—so that the illustrated crocodile, bird, mammal, and frog seemed to come alive through sound.

The result was a gallery that felt less like an exhibit and more like stepping into a prehistoric environment. Visitors were invited to explore, play, and discover as sound, art, and fossils layered together to create an immersive world. By merging technology with creative storytelling, the installation deepened visitor engagement and fostered a lasting connection to the life and landscapes of the Green River period.