BLETCHLEY PARK
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT / MULTI-TOUCH PROGRAMMING / CAPACITIVE-TOUCH / CMS SYSTEMS / CODING DEVELOPMENT / UNITY / GRAPHIC & ILLUSTRATIVE DESIGN / ANIMATIONS / SCRIPTING / VOICE-OVERS / LOCATION FILMING / SOUND DESIGN / VISUAL-FX / MOTION GRAPHICS & TYPOGRAPHY / INSTALLATION
THE INTELLIGENCE FACTORY
AY-PE created and delivered two show stopping, large-scale touch-interactives for Bletchley Park’s biggest ever exhibition on World War Two code-breaking: ‘The Intelligence Factory’.
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The exhibition saw the Park’s 'Block A' being opened to the public for the first time - as it was during war time, with the key message exploring how Bletchley Park’s potential was unleashed between 1942 - 45. AY-PE’s interactive software for touchscreen walls and table, place the visitor in the shoes of Bletchley Park workers - immersing them in real-life at the Park.
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Client: Bletchley Park
Exhibition Design: Ralph Appelbaum Associates
Hardware: Sysco
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(Header image: © Andrew Lee, Bletchley Park Trust)
IN THEIR SHOES
Recreating the day-to-day life of a Women’s Royal Navy Service Worker ‘Wren’, AY-PE developed two colossal touch-interactive experiences, with the software projected across 18m2 of capacitive touch-wall.
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Working with Bletchley Park experts, we adapted original Admiralty Hydrographic Charts for the era, into digital software - plotting courses and software algorithms to relate to key routes across the Mediterranean and Atlantic in war time.
(Film clip: © ITV News)
GAMIFICATION
The visitor is tasked to be the Wren - receiving incoming plotting messages to record activity in the wartime sea. Working closely with the project team and public/user testing, we developed appropriate messages both to convey the nature of the Wrens’ work, the authenticity of the time and give an intriguing experience for the player.
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Tying in with surrounding 2D graphics and silhouettes, the Plotting Room experience is a pinnacle moment in immersing audiences into the code-breaking world.
YOU'RE IN CHARGE
Our task was to design a stunning, large-scale interactive table which would intrigue and surprise multiple, simultaneous users in exploring the enormous administrative function in running the ever-growing Park.
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Working with Bletchley Park’s experts, nearly 100 Memos were developed which randomly flicker and entice a visitor to press the capacitive touch-table, folding out into ‘play area’ when pressed.
BESPOKE STYLE
Working with a style in keeping with the Park brand and with board games of the time, our projected software delivered clickable memo cards, options and illustrated outcomes.
The ‘board’ itself was designed by
AY-PE to creatively reflect an abstract version of the Park which is seemingly alive as the visitor makes their choices - with WW2 vehicles, people, cyclists and more moving around the Park, and outcome animations popping up all over.
DAN SNOW,
PRESENTER & HISTORIAN
I'm very struck by the interactives, they're brilliant!
EXHIBITIONS MANAGER,
BLETCHLEY PARK
AY-PE responded to our brief with a combination of creative flair and common sense. Their evident experience informed how users engage successfully, with an audience-centred design approach. AY-PE are friendly and approachable but always professional, and a lovely company to work with.