FMWB Mobile Exhibit: Cultural Storytelling on the Move

Overview
In partnership with Meta and IX Labs, Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo launched a mobile VR exhibit designed to promote regional tourism and honor Indigenous culture. Housed inside a custom trailer, the exhibit traveled across communities, offering immersive storytelling, interactive maps, and touch-based learning experiences.

My role centered on UX/UI, motion design, set design, and video editing—all aimed at delivering a respectful, engaging, and culturally grounded visitor experience.

Challenge
How do you translate regional heritage and Indigenous storytelling into an interactive and accessible format—within the constraints of a moving trailer?

Approach
1. Cultural Collaboration First
We co-developed the exhibit alongside local Indigenous artists and storytellers. This ensured the design process maintained cultural sensitivity and authenticity throughout.

2. Designing for Movement
The trailer environment required spatial thinking. I worked on:
- Touchscreen Interfaces: UX/UI for wayfinding, story exploration, and map interactivity
- Map Exhibits: Created custom layouts highlighting Indigenous territories and experiences from a cultural—not geographic—perspective
- Trailer Set Design: Designed spatial flow and layout for visual and content clarity in a small, high-traffic space

3. Motion & Visual Design

Motion Graphics: Brought stories to life through subtle animation and transitions
Information Design: Simplified complex narratives into digestible formats
Promotional Video: Edited marketing visuals to extend the exhibit’s impact beyond the trailer

Outcome
1. Successfully toured and engaged diverse audiences across communities
2. Celebrated by local media and stakeholders as a culturally sensitive and innovative tourism tool
3. Strengthened public awareness of the region’s Indigenous heritage through design and storytelling
4. Created accessible digital experiences that encouraged learning, reflection, and exploration

What I Learned
Designing for mobile, physical spaces requires blending UX thinking with environmental design. Above all, this project deepened my appreciation for co-creation, where community-led storytelling becomes the foundation for design that truly resonates.