This was a semester-long project investigating how we can educate visitors on the harmful effects of plastic in the ocean. Through careful design, we transformed one of Wesleyan’s theater spaces to be an immersive ocean experience.

Visitors enter the exhibit in a beautiful kelp garden and are immediately exposed to the ocean’s untouched beauty. As they follow the intended path through this exhibit, the ocean becomes more littered with trash and fear builds in the visitor as the beauty they once saw starts to dissipate.

Visitors are encouraged to pick up littered trash throughout the exhibit and deposit their findings in an educational recycling center at the end of the path. By cultivating emotion through design, we were able to successfully craft an educational oceanic experience by spreading awareness and inspiring action.