Folger Shakespeare Library, The Wings

brief
Our challenge was to design an interactive experience that would help modern audiences connect with Shakespeare’s legacy while preserving the historical integrity of the Folger’s treasured First Folios.

my Role
As Lead UI/UX Designer at Bluecadet, I helped shape the creative vision, led concept and interaction design, visual storytelling, and illustrated final projection drawings for The Wings installation.

The Wings Installation

Adjacent to the central light case, The Wings consist of dual LED plaques with capacitive touch that introduce the folios and their enduring significance.

Flanking both sides of the long folio case, the installation invites visitors to engage through a “touch to play” prompt, triggering short, story-driven animations designed to draw people in through curiosity and discovery.

Concept Phase

We began by exploring possibilities for the interactive experience within the spatial and exhibition constraints. Three initial concepts emerged: an interactive mural, a screen-based experience with an audio component, and a presence-activated projection.

Defining the Experience

After selecting the interactive mural concept, we refined the user experience and attract state, defining how visitors would discover and activate the experience.

Storyboarding the Narrative

Working closely with the content strategist, I translated the core stories into a visual sequence, carefully defining the rhythm and flow of each moment. Every beat was storyboarded to balance clarity, pacing, and emotional resonance, ensuring that the narrative would be easy to follow within the brief interaction time.

Bringing the Story to Life

I created detailed  illustrations for the animated sequences in The Wings. Collaborating with a motion designer, we brought each scene to life through subtle, purposeful movement.

Prototyping & Testing

From cardboard mockups to full-scale projection tests, we iterated continuously to fine-tune visual clarity, pacing, and interactivity within the physical environment.

Team

Creative Director – Katie Savage
Lead Experience Designer – Emily Lin
Content Strategist – Nina Callaway
Lead Producer – Victoria Jones
Lead Developer – Adiel Fernandez
Senior Developer – Clay Tereck
Motion Designer – Xavier Johnson