TING: Technology and Democracy
A semicircular wall of technological objects, a central interactive table, and panoramic projections form a shared arena where audiences discuss, vote, and see their collective decisions visualized in real time.
The exhibition reframes the museum visit as a social act, turning spectators into participants in a living debate about the future.
A Contemporary Ting
Inspired by the historic Nordic “Ting” assemblies, the exhibition is structured like a contemporary civic forum.
A 25-metre-wide semicircular shelf holds 100 technological objects, from everyday devices to complex systems, all integrated into a projection surface. At the centre, a circular interactive table becomes the main stage where visitors gather, place wooden voting blocks, and trigger media content.
Films, animations, live graphics, and data visualizations respond to group input, turning the space into a constantly changing visual field that reflects current discussions and decisions.
A Sincere Dialogue
Visitors first explore the objects on the shelf and access short stories and explanations via touch interfaces.
They then move to the central table where facilitated questions about surveillance, automation, responsibility, or participation are posed. Placing wooden cubes and interacting with tablets, they vote on options and watch their choices appear immediately in the surrounding projections.
The exhibition becomes a shared dialogue between people and media: individual views, group dynamics, and visual feedback merge into a tangible experience of democracy in action.
Making Democracy Tangible
The core challenge was to translate abstract questions about technology, power, and participation into something that could be experienced, not just explained.
Rather than presenting static panels on risks and opportunities, the exhibition had to invite visitors of all ages to take positions, compare perspectives, and see democracy as a process that depends on active engagement.
TING has been recognized internationally for its innovative experiential design, increasing museum engagement and dwell times while reframing a typical museum experience into a format where visitors’ co-create the content. It has been widely cited as a reference project for participatory museum experience and has received multiple international design and museum awards.
Project Highlights
- Immersive amphitheater-like space with interactive table for group participation.
- A shelf of 100 objects used as an integrated projection surface.
- Real-time visualization of visitor decisions during debates.
- Exhibition format reinvented to a public democratic forum concept.
Facts & Figures
Lead Agency: Ralph Appelbaum Associates
Sound & Music Design: BLUWI Music & Sounddesign GbR
Interaction programming: colorsoundixd
Awards
