Reimagining How We Experience History
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) set a new bar for immersive storytelling when it opened, bringing Lincoln’s life to audiences through light, sound, and emotion. Two decades later, the museum wanted to lead once again, this time with augmented reality.
Partnering with Google Public Sector, our mission was clear:
Create an AR enhanced experience that brings history to life and inspires visitors to explore and experience the legacy of Lincoln, making learning engaging and unforgettable.
Following our Discovery phase, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) partnered with Thoughtworks and Google Public Sector to deliver a mobile app that would reimagine how visitors engage with history through augmented reality.
As the lead-level designer on a four-person design team, I worked across UX, branding, visual design, and 2D/3D illustration. I led the creative direction for the app’s brand identity, guided the design of key AR experiences, and partnered closely with developers to bring an ambitious installation to life through AR: the Slave Auction Block exhibit.
This phase of the project was as much about ethics as it was about innovation: a balance between honoring the emotional gravity of history and leveraging technology to inspire empathy, connection, and reflection.
Designing for Reflection, Collaboration, and Legacy
The Slave Auction Block experience became an important locus of reflection in the app—a space where AR was used to help visitors pause and consider the topic of slavery in an exhibit that often lacked engagement. This work was completed during the final phase of the project, with a smaller team comprised of three developers, a QA lead, and myself. With this small cross-functional team, I positioned digital renders of real museum artifacts within the AR environment, crafted a historical audio-first experience to center first-hand WPA accounts, and designed interactions that encouraged visitors to think critically.
Delivering AR in a museum environment brought constant constraints: low light, spotty Wi-Fi, and sound interference. When it came to the audio, we adapted by integrating subtitles, building silent default modes, and creating a clear onboarding flow to set expectations. Each compromise was an opportunity to improve accessibility and resilience.
Beyond design, we helped ensure the museum’s long-term autonomy. The app’s content management system allows staff to add or update experiences without external support, which is a vital achievement for a state-funded institution. Stakeholders were thrilled with both the app and the process that brought it to life.
This project was a reminder that technology and history can coexist harmoniously when guided by both empathy and intention. We didn’t just deliver an app; we delivered a bridge between past and present, helping visitors experience history not as life-sze dioramas, but as living stories that invite reflection and connection.
The Slave Auction Block experience became an important locus of reflection in the app—a space where AR was used to help visitors pause and consider the topic of slavery in an exhibit that often lacked engagement. This work was completed during the final phase of the project, with a smaller team comprised of three developers, a QA lead, and myself. With this small cross-functional team, I positioned digital renders of real museum artifacts within the AR environment, crafted a historical audio-first experience to center first-hand WPA accounts, and designed interactions that encouraged visitors to think critically.
Delivering AR in a museum environment brought constant constraints: low light, spotty Wi-Fi, and sound interference. When it came to the audio, we adapted by integrating subtitles, building silent default modes, and creating a clear onboarding flow to set expectations. Each compromise was an opportunity to improve accessibility and resilience.
Beyond design, we helped ensure the museum’s long-term autonomy. The app’s content management system allows staff to add or update experiences without external support, which is a vital achievement for a state-funded institution. Stakeholders were thrilled with both the app and the process that brought it to life.
This project was a reminder that technology and history can coexist harmoniously when guided by both empathy and intention. We didn’t just deliver an app; we delivered a bridge between past and present, helping visitors experience history not as life-sze dioramas, but as living stories that invite reflection and connection.
The Slave Auction Block experience became an important locus of reflection in the app—a space where AR was used to help visitors pause and consider the topic of slavery in an exhibit that often lacked engagement. This work was completed during the final phase of the project, with a smaller team comprised of three developers, a QA lead, and myself. With this small cross-functional team, I positioned digital renders of real museum artifacts within the AR environment, crafted a historical audio-first experience to center first-hand WPA accounts, and designed interactions that encouraged visitors to think critically.
Delivering AR in a museum environment brought constant constraints: low light, spotty Wi-Fi, and sound interference. When it came to the audio, we adapted by integrating subtitles, building silent default modes, and creating a clear onboarding flow to set expectations. Each compromise was an opportunity to improve accessibility and resilience.
Beyond design, we helped ensure the museum’s long-term autonomy. The app’s content management system allows staff to add or update experiences without external support, which is a vital achievement for a state-funded institution. Stakeholders were thrilled with both the app and the process that brought it to life.
This project was a reminder that technology and history can coexist harmoniously when guided by both empathy and intention. We didn’t just deliver an app; we delivered a bridge between past and present, helping visitors experience history not as life-sze dioramas, but as living stories that invite reflection and connection.
