An experience in exploring the topic of psychology in human discomfort. Our exhibit’s visitors enter a realm of abnormal and eerie experiences while within the exhibit. The exhibit is modeled to include liminal spaces, illusions of an uncanny or uncomfortable experience into the unknown. While visitors move throughout the exhibit, they will learn about the different objects and concepts that can trigger fear or discomfort.

Our exhibit aims for our visitors to face different fears or phobias, to educate them about where feelings of discomfort stem from. Through research, I found that the visual themes exploring liminal spaces would best make people feel that the exhibit is unsettling, but familiar; feelings of nostalgia and transition—which some may also find eerie. Visitors are ultimately able to reflect on the evolution of human fears, how discomfort was a survival instinct or flight-or-fight reaction, but now has evolved into modern fears.

These objects are specifically designated to the different rooms, creating a unique atmosphere and full engagement in experiencing these specific fears.

As part of my research, I created a circulation plan and object plan to understand the flow of the visitor experience.

Exhibit design involved interactive user experience, curation, research, and designing within an actual space. Through several concepts and applications, I designed how users experience the space, and how they interact with the brand and concept of the exhibit.

With a focus of storytelling on liminal spaces, irrational fears, and the evolution of human discomfort. One of my goals within this exhibit was to make it a meaningful and memorable experience. Through the object list, set design, branding and promotion, I wanted the design of my exhibit to strike a vision into people’s minds, where they could easily see this exhibit coming to life.

This entry wall greets visitors with context and brief history behind the exploration of human discomfort. With the immediate realistic face masks, visitors are immediately disturbed as they enter the realm of the uncanny. The interior follows the branding, as well as emphasizing the educational experience alongside the immersive.

In the Surveillance and Photo Booth area, security footage of all of the other visitors in the exhibit is propped onto this wall. It serves as both an entertaining and educational take on the fear of being watched.

One of the interactive activities of this exhibit is a scavenger hunt. If all players collect the cards from each room, they can earn a free photo booth ticket.

By the end of this exhibit, visitors takeaway a feeling of a deeper and more introspective view of themselves, alongside an appreciation for the normalcy of real life. The exhibit will also provide awareness of how as humans, we tend to avoid discomfort, but sometimes we will purposely place ourselves into uncomfortable situations in order to gain some sort of psychological benefit.