EXPLORE @t BRISTOL

A wealth of machines and mechanisms, ‘Move It’ deals with simple physics on a grand scale. Levers, pulleys, sprockets, structures and gears are used through-out to describe the principals and inventions which moulded and formed the 20th Century.

Attractions include - water exhibits driven by a human powered hamster-wheel, a pulley tower which enables the visitor to lift their own body weight, bridges to build and the opportunity to pedal-power electricity.

GORILLA KINGDOM

Part of a major masterplan for the refurbishment of The Zoological Society Of London, ‘Gorilla Kingdom’ represents an appropriate re-thinking in the Zoo’s previous facility for the housing of large primates.

Working in very close collaboration with the animal team, an approach was developed which delivers a narrative flow throughout the exhibit. Through interactives, tracking activities, Audio Visual and actual animal observation, visitors are shown the complexity of the issues surrounding the conservation of these incredible animals.

DISCOVER

Discover is a series of experiential opportunities and a range of interactive exhibits to motivate children from 2 to 7 years and their carers to want to create, write and build stories and to enjoy word-making.

Hybrid play structures, such as the Lollipopter, where all manner of potential vehicles are assimilated, blue screen activities, story cones and puppet making all encourage children to interpret as widely as their imaginations can stretch.

EXPLORERS GALLERY, TORQUAY

The task was to bring out of store an important ethnographic collection and to show it in such a way that it would grab and engage a modern audience.

In the Explorers Gallery, Visitors are confronted by objects old and new, challenging their preconceptions. The juxtaposition of objects is often startling, arousing curiosity. A kalashnikov sits centre stage amidst a choice of older, tribal weapons; Egyptomania inhabits the same space as the stories and finds of explorers drawn to the jungles of South America or African deserts.

WATERWORKS

The Esssex Filter Beds were built in 1849 to purify London's drinking water. Today, the site is a sanctuary for wildlife. 'Waterworks' was commissioned as part of a £2.8 million Nature Reserve and 'Close Up On Wildlife' visitor centre.

Using giant photographs, models and hands-on interactives, the exhibition tells the story of the filter beds and provides a backdrop and forum for dicsussion and ‘hands-on’ interaction with the fauna and flora of the area.

GUNPOWDER PARK

Set in the Lee Valley, the green lungs of London, and created out of the decommissioned Royal Ordnance South Site, Gunpowder Park, near Waltham Abbey is a model of managed land recovery.

Team sessions involving client staff, landscape designers, engineers, artists and architects led to the development of a distinctive and coherent interpretive identity, character and underlying theme.

THE ROALD DAHL MUSUEM

In keeping with the ethos of the Dahl Foundation, the award winning Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre places as much emphasis on the story-making process, as it does on the life of the writer. Visitors interact with exhibits linked to Dahl's life and listen to embedded narrative programmes which dramatically piece together extracts from the author's life before using their 'ideas book' to make their own stories.

click here to watch a video about the centre

BULLRING GALLERY

The Bullring Gallery was born out of a detailed visitor evaluation by Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Findings indicated that local people wanted to know more about the history of their city and the people and stories that have made Birmingham the place it is today.

With stories centred around the Bull Ring market square (the starting point for the city we know today), a number of large graphic panels with full-scale illustrations, objects, games, spoken audio stories and text, take the visitor on a fascinating journey through the history of Birmingham.

THE CENTRE FOR THE CHILDREN'S BOOK

Developed as a concept for a foyer, iconic story elements - a boat, a castle, a monster are juxtaposed against audio visual presentations of illustrators work.

Visitors are totally immersed within the environment, providing an exiting backdrop for small scale interactives and 'discovery boxes' hidden within each story element.

ROYAL WILLIAM YARD

A series of scheduled monuments in Plymouth, Royal William Yard developed by Urban Splash into luxury apartments.

Designer / Director Dug Mackie was involved in space planning, interior design and the early stages of development - working with Architects, Ferguson Mann.

THE ENGINE SHED INTERPRETATION CENTRE, PORTLAND

mackie | design consultants are currently working with Bremner & Orr on the development of a disused Engine Shed on Portland into an interpretation centre for the island.

Commissioned by Portland Gas, the centre will focus on life on the island, but also discuss the development of Portland Gas' innovative gas storage facility in newly made 'salt caverns' under the island.

WHY CHOOSE...

Born out of a six year relationship with Bremner & Orr Design, mackie | design consultants builds upon an already established reputation for the generation of unique, original ideas and the delivery of enduring, high impact interpretive design, visitor attractions, galleries and events.

I'M AN ANIMAL

I'm An Animal was conceived as a working title for the Children's Zoo at London Zoo.

Working with the in-house team ideas were generated around the idea of juxtaposing interactivity with controlled animal encounters and displays, in the context of recycled materials and interpretation which did not shy away from worldwide wildlife issues such as global warming and deforestation. I'm An Animal is still under development by the in-house team.

BLUETOOTH AUDIO, RAGLAN CASTLE

Developed in collaboration with Bremner & Orr, and Xors Systems and currently being trialed at Raglan Castle, visitors are able to load audio interpretation directly to their mobile phone free of charge via a bluetooth transmitter.

The long term goal is to provide Bluetooth transmitters, which may be discreetly distributed around the castle, in order for visitors to download relevant stories throughout their visit

click here to visit the evaluation web site and listen to the stories.

SURVIVING HISTORY

Mackie Design Consultants is pleased to be working with Living Imprint on the development of a new installation / exhibition focusing on the living history of 10 individuals who survived the Holocaust in Lithuania.

Drawing on an interdisciplinary range of media including: photography, video, text, archival documentation, visual biography and biographical objects, the prioject seeks to express how history is lived; how world events are experienced from the inside.

Photo Credit: Daniel Quinones, Living Imprint

Each project comes with it's own specific requirements. Our process is to search out the unique stories and messages that provide the widest possible access to all visitors - to facilitate understanding and learning through enjoyment and to use appropriate interpretive solutions as a springboard for the imagination.

WHO WE ARE

mackie | design consultants is a collaboration of interpretive designers, researchers, artists, makers and technicians, delivering enduring, high impact interpretive design, visitor attractions, galleries and events.

mackie | design consultants deliver interpretation design services, innovative thinking and creative problem solving.

Born out of a six year relationship with Bremner & Orr Design, mackie | design consultants seeks to build upon an established reputation for the generation of unique, original ideas and the delivery of enduring, high impact interpretive design, visitor attractions, galleries and events.

CONCEPT / CONTENT DEVELOPMENT

We take a holistic approach to the design process, and encourage every opportunity to develop early project thinking into robust, considered and appropriate concepts and content.

We work closely with Halcrow Creative to deliver content development - this process often takes the form of brainstorming meetings, workshops and often end user consultation - always tailored to specific project requirements.

Please click here to contact the studio if you would like to discuss a specific project.

TIME DETECTIVE TRAIL, CONWY CASTLE

Created as a response to Cadw's brief to increase the dwell time for families and deliver a greater understanding of some of the events and stories of the castle and the people who lived (and died!) there. The Time Detective Trail challenges visitors to explore the castle and to use their ‘secret decoder’ to unravel a murder mystery, solve the clues and claim a prize.

Based upon real events which took place around a seige in 1401, the Time Detective Game delivers real history in an accessible, fun, friendly way.