JourneyMaker

JourneyMaker is a digital-meets-print experience that allows families to create their very own tours of the Art Institute of Chicago, based on the topics that interest them the most. This personalized art adventure begins at the David and Marilyn Fatt Vitale Family Room in the Ryan Learning Center—located in the museum’s Modern Wing.

Belle & Wissell designed the complete JourneyMaker experience, in close collaboration with the Art Institute of Chicago’s internal teams. The project’s scope included the David and Marilyn Fatt Vitale Family Room environmental graphics, the touch table interactives (with an at-home companion desktop Web version). The studio also contributed to the design of the new furniture pieces that enclose the interactives.

Visitors begin at a JourneyMaker interactive touch table, selecting one of eight storylines—including Superheroes, Time Travelers, or Strange and Wild Creatures (based on what interests them, regardless of their knowledge about art). Next, they select works from the museum’s collection to assemble their story journey. After they’ve made their selections, they can print out their own personalized Journey Guide, which includes information, activities, and wayfinding directions. Then, they head into the museum for an art-filled adventure.

Families can also begin the experience at home, with a desktop Web-version that allows them to shape and print their Journey Guide themselves before their visit.