History Detectives Lab
A fun way to learn how to ask thoughtful and insightful questions
Employer
Playmatics
Client
PBS - History Detectives Lab
My role
Visual Designer/Art Director
Platforms
Web, Flash ActionScript 3
Overview
History Detectives Laboratory (HD Lab) is an online educational game inspired by the PBS television show History Detectives. Its two main components: Game Modules and Open Investigation has the student playing the role of a Detective, investigating a mystery surrounding an object. Modules helps prepare students for their own more free-form ’Open Investigation’ of an object they are curious about, and which may have a connection to U.S. history. Open Investigation can be used independently of the Modules.
The two modules to play are: The Case of the Curious Clock, and The Case of the Hooked Hawaiian Knife. They are aligned with Historical Thinking and Common Core State Standards and support curriculum in two historical eras: The New Immigrants (1880 – 1920) and the Emergence of Modern America (1890 – 1930s).
Challenge
I started at Playmatics in the Summer between my first and second year of grad school at Parsons School of Design. Initially I worked with an Art Director who led the project. After proving my skill and sensibility for this project I was handed off the lead role and tasked with completing it and bringing it to launch for the client.
Doing hours of visual research, something I still enjoy doing, refining moodboards and comps for each screen, as well as generating conceptual ideas for the game’s user interface, I was able to pick up when my lead left off. While working semi-remotely with a technical designer/engineer, a flash developer and the client script we finished the development of Module 1 and started and completed the second and final module: The Hooked Hawaiian Knife.
The Case of the Curious Clock
The Case of the Hooked Hawaiian Knife
Outcomes
The game was launched in mid 2012 and lived for about two seasons on the website of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.