Tombstone Territorial Park Interpretive Centre
The Tombstone Territorial Park Interpretive Centre relates the complex story of the Park’s history, stunning natural biodiversity, and uniqueness of its native culture. Origin Studios led this project from concept design through to fabrication and installation, bringing together key stakeholders and interested parties to ensure the project to ran smoothly. We overcame the challenges inherent in the remote location, and used creative problem solving and determination to gain access to the many required sources of information and images.
The development and planning for the centre began in the mid 1980s and underwent many changes over its lifespan. Themes and stories focused on the region’s dramatic landscapes and natural history, the impact of the Dempster Highway project, and the local First Nations with ancestral ties to the land. We employed a narrative style featuring first person accounts and story telling to allow the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nations a primary role in educating about the land they occupy. We worked closely with scientists and Yukon Parks to relay the hidden complexity of the geology and biodiversity the park encompasses, and engaged the local community at every opportunity, including employing a number of local artists to flesh out stories with artwork and illustrations.
Early on in the process we facilitated a brainstorming session that allowed the client and consultants to understand the visitor path and experience. This interpretive strategy became our tracking document, allowing us to ensure nothing would be left behind in content development. The same system was also used to follow each informational panel from concept through to approval and fabrication.
In order to tie the wealth of stories and history together within the large, open plan space of the Visitor Centre, we designed a curvilinear grid—the essence of which was a strong, clean and cohesive graphic style. This served as an anchor, allowing layers of information to be placed on top of it in dynamic and engaging ways. The strength of the graphic strategy is reflective of the centre itself—a construct allowing diverse, intersecting stories to be brought together as a unified whole.
Details
Yukon Territory Parks Dept., Whitehorse, YT, 2009
Exhibit Design
Exhibit Space: 2,500 sq. ft.