Family Exhibits

A multi-sensory family journey into Qatar’s heritage, shaped by play and discovery.

National Museum of Qatar, Doha (QA), 2019

Exterior view of the National Museum of Qatar, with its iconic interlocking disc design and water features, seen through an artistic sculptural installation in the foreground.

Overview

The National Museum of Qatar offers a unique 1.5-kilometer journey that immerses visitors in the country’s history, blending movement, touch, and storytelling. Along this journey, the museum created Family Exhibits specifically for children aged 5 to 15, where they can engage with Qatar’s heritage in an interactive and hands-on way.

  • Wide view of the archaeological gallery, with large amphora replicas, touchscreen tables, and animated projections illustrating layers of earth and excavation scenes.
  • Two young girls interacting with a sand-textured touchscreen interface, part of a digital digging game that simulates uncovering buried artifacts in different soil layers.
  • Close-up of a girl using a circular interactive screen that mimics ancient decorative patterns, part of an archaeology-themed activity about reconstructing cultural objects from fragments.
  • Two teenagers engaging with a large horizontal touchscreen as part of an interactive archaeological game, set within a gallery where colorful stratigraphic layers are projected on the walls to simulate excavation contexts.
  • A toddler inserting a puzzle piece into a large interactive ceramic-alike amphora, part of a hands-on archaeological activity, while an adult woman looks on.

Three Family Exhibits

My work focused on three family exhibits, each inviting visitors to explore Qatar’s rich heritage through games and stories. Visitors can dig up ancient artifacts, discover the traditional pearl diving culture that shaped coastal life, and learn about the vital role energy resources play in the country’s story.

  • Boy and father engaging with an interactive table game where participants place their hands over specific object replicas to trigger animated projections on the wall, revealing excavation layers and archaeological timelines.
  • Children using a multi-user touchscreen to uncover virtual artifacts in a digging-themed game, while parents look on, in a gallery designed to simulate a layered archaeological dig site.
  • Young girl smiling while playing with a tactile puzzle on a large amphora replica, part of an interactive installation that invites children to reconstruct broken archaeological artifacts.
  • A child interacting with replicas of ancient artifacts on a round table; wall projections above respond with animated historical scenes and layers representing excavation contexts. Two adult men are observing the game.

Contribution

I led the visual, multimedia, and AV design for these three exhibits, managing the whole creative process within an international network. These exhibits range from tactile, discovery-based activities to more complex and story-driven challenges, offering something for every age and level of curiosity. Each experience is designed for families to explore together, turning learning into a shared adventure rather than something parents simply watch from the sidelines.

  • Wide view of a gallery with immersive underwater projections covering the walls; traditional fishing tools, props and interactive screens are arranged on display, and a large stylized pearl shell sits at the center.
  • Young girl sitting playfully inside a large sculpted pearl shell in the middle of the gallery, surrounded by vivid marine-themed projections.
  • Three children roleplaying a traditional cooking activity, using tongs to place toy fish over a simulated grill lit with glowing red light to mimic fire.
  • Child and adult woman exploring an interactive touch display set into a counter, with vibrant coral reef animations projected on the surrounding gallery walls.
  • Young girl standing in front of a wall display featuring brightly lit circular windows, each showcasing a different sea creature linked to the marine life of the Gulf.
  • Close-up of a touchscreen game interface with a grid of numbered pearl illustrations, inviting visitors to find the most precious pearl known as the Dana or Jiwan.
  • Two girls engaging with a digital touchscreen embedded under a large wooden dhow model, exploring pearl-themed interactive content with projected coral reef graphics.
  • Young boy exploring a large boat model beneath a sail-shaped screen projecting a pearl diving scene, opening side compartments to discover the vessel’s interior features.
  • Three children using large interactive wooden oars, simulating the rowing experience of pearl divers in a boat installation surrounded by an underwater environment.

Key achievements

  • Led the design of a multi-sensory family journey
  • Turned the museum visit into a playful family experience
  • Adapted expertise to Qatari cultural context
  • Collaborated across a global network of partners
  • Met top-tier expectations for a high-profile client
  • Recognised with international awards
  • Wide view of an immersive energy-themed room with glowing floor tiles and colorful wall graphics depicting Qatar’s energy landscape and infrastructure.
  • Two children and an adult joyfully interacting with an illuminated game floor, triggering projected animations and feedback related to Qatar’s energy journey.
  • Child scanning colorful 3D-printed plastic objects shaped like consumer goods using a handheld barcode scanner at an interactive wall.
  • Group of children standing barefoot on a glowing interactive floor, focusing on triggering visual responses through movement.
  • Illuminated interactive floor displaying a stylized map of Qatar, with LED-lit illustrations on the wall representing national energy sources. A rainbow-colored screen above the floor provides game instructions in Arabic.