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An Interactive Art Installation Centering Children’s Voices
An Interactive Art Installation Centering Children’s Voices
Installation | 2024
Interactive Art Elevating Kids' Experiences
From Children’s Drawings
to Storytelling
The process began with collecting drawings and stories from the artist’s niece and nephew and later expanded by inviting children during the exhibition to submit new drawings and short written stories. The drawings were animated in Adobe After Effects, with every movement, rhythm, and visual behavior guided by the child’s storytelling. Interactive elements were programmed in p5.js, creating three activation methods: sound detection (clapping), motion tracking through the webcam (such as raising a hand), and touch-based activation using conductive kits installed on the frames. The installation also incorporated projection mapping and iterative testing with children and adults. Throughout the process, refinement focused on improving responsiveness, clarity of interaction, and emotional fidelity to each child’s narrative.
Challenge
The project required protecting the authenticity of each child’s drawing while integrating animation and technology that still felt true to their story. A major challenge was ensuring immediate, intuitive interaction—especially since children at this age rely more on behavior than words to express satisfaction. Technical obstacles included calibrating sound sensitivity, refining webcam gesture detection, and building touch-trigger systems that worked across different drawings. Observing children’s reactions revealed the importance of fast activation, leading to continuous adjustments in coding, timing, and visual transitions. Balancing emotional accuracy, responsiveness, and accessibility became the core design problem, ultimately shaping an installation that centered the child’s voice at every step.
Future Directions
Building on the success of the installation, the project is evolving to include a dedicated drawing station in future exhibitions, allowing children—and adults—to create new drawings on-site and write the stories behind them. Contrary to initial expectations, participation extended far beyond young visitors; adults were equally enthusiastic, often engaging with the project as passionately as the children. During the exhibition, the volume of submitted drawings grew so quickly that the gallery walls filled with contributions. Simple instructional stickers and visual prompts were provided to guide participants, transforming the space into a highly interactive, community-driven environment. This response demonstrated the project’s potential for continued growth, larger-scale workshops, and expanded public engagement.
Recognition
First Place — Ohio University Student Expo 2025
Exhibited—TURNING TWO! Second Year MFA Exhibition, Ohio University Art Gallery (Fall 2024)
Credits & Acknowledgments
Mentor:
Dr Basil Masri Zada
Collaboration with Sasan Majidiyanfar
Assistance from Seyed Mansour Rezaei
Featured Drawings by:
Diana Hassankhani (USA)
Eason Wo (China)
Amir Arsalan Pirahmadian (Iran)
Anita Pirahmadian (Iran)
Special Thanks:
Mark Franz
JP Rhea
Cassidy Brauner Jarrahi
With gratitude to:
Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts, Ohio University Art Gallery
And all participating MFA students in Turning Two! Exhibition.
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