Harry, Steph & Paige Experience Design Workbook: Christchurch Air Force Museum (research over break)

Over the holidays I went to visit the Christchurch air force museum.

They had a lot of ANZAC commemorations including this poppy wall

Welcome into the exhibition

Had a mix between traditional display but also had a lot of life size figures which made you feel more connected to the airmen at the time.

A replica of the inside of a plane, inside you could sit on the planes strapped seating and watch a movie

The "hanger" provided context about the planes with each plane having a painted background/scenario. Having the planes in an actual hanger makes them feel more real (which they are) rather than a replica.

They also had interactions such as an actual turret that you could go inside and 'shoot down' the other planes in the hanger.

Children interacting with the cockpit

You could also sit in and interact with a real fighter plane cockpit.

There was a new exhibition when I went about Prisoners of War:

Spin the wheel and find out your fate/ how you became a prisoner...sounds are played which reflect the fate you are given

Can take a mugshot as you follow the journey of the POWs (almost like a choose you own adventure)

Making your escape, you leave the prison hut through a 'hidden' bookcase door. You arrive at a tunnel like space with dogs barking and alarms rings as if you escaped a prison camp.

The museum also puts on Tea Parties to "experience the nostalgia of a bygone era"

There is also an old fighter plane flight simulator for a fee

This exhibition wasn't done as well, there is minimal interaction and has a lot of hard to read text

Children can dress up as airmen and there is also a lot of school/community groups which do tours and educational visits (with teachers from the museum itself)