Don't Let the Story Die

Project description

How can I raise awareness among Generation Z about the Hornemann House by designing a digital experience that resonates with their values and digital culture?

Context

The goal of this project is to create awareness among Generation Z about het Hornemann Huis in Eindhoven, a museum and educational center that tells the heartbreaking story of Jewish brothers Edo and Lex Hornemann, who were murdered during the Holocaust. Traditional forms of remembrance often don’t resonate with younger generations. That’s why this project focuses on developing a digital experience that fits the values, behavior, and digital habits of Gen Z.

The central design challenge is: How can I create awareness among Generation Z about the Hornemann House through a digital experience that connects with their world?

Through research into the needs and preferences of this target group, I designed an interactive and respectful experience that makes the story of the Hornemann House meaningful and relevant to them.

Results

The main outcome of this project is an interactive digital poster designed to create awareness about the Hornemann House and the story of the Bullenhuser Damm children among Generation Z. The poster features a large daisy, with each petal symbolizing one of the children, representing innocence, youth, and vulnerability. When a viewer approaches, one petal slowly falls, showing the name and age of a child, creating a powerful emotional moment. Users can click to restore the petal, symbolically keeping the memory and story alive. This triggers a call to action with a QR code that leads to the Hornemann House website for further learning.

A prototype of the poster has been developed as a proof of concept. The basic functionality, such as petals falling and being restored through interaction, works as intended. However, as a proof of concepte prototype, there may still be some issues with the motion detection and the way movements are interpreted. The current version represents the core idea and shows the potential of the concept, but further development and refinement are needed to ensure a smooth and reliable experience.

The experience successfully evokes strong emotional responses. Many viewers paused silently when a petal fell and a name appeared, showing genuine reflection. The interaction sparked curiosity and encouraged deeper engagement with the story, effectively raising awareness and promoting conversation about this lesser-known part of history and the museum.

The design captures attention and fosters empathy without overwhelming users with information, balancing respect with engagement. Further collaboration with the Hornemann House is needed to prepare the concept for public use.

In conclusion, the interactive digital poster combines storytelling, emotion, and technology to connect Generation Z with an important historical narrative. Its validated outcomes show strong potential for real-world impact and make it a valuable tool for cultural institutions seeking to engage younger audiences through innovative digital experiences.