Nation of Strangers: An Exhibition on the History of Immigration in the United States
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Date
2025-05
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Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Nation of Strangers is an interactive timeline exhibition for middle and high-school-age children. It is designed to educate and engage viewers as they learn about key factors such as the economic, cultural, and demographic impact of immigrants during each major immigration wave in the United States. The history of immigration is a topic that doesn’t get the attention that it should in American History classrooms across the U.S., even though immigrants were the foundation of what the country was built on. By creating an exhibition on the history of immigration in the United States it will allow viewers to gain a deeper understanding of the nation's past, present, and future. It also provides a factual basis for celebrating the diverse contributions of immigrants, recognizing their struggles, and appreciating their role in shaping American society.
Secondary research was the primary source of research during this project. It involved researching the key historical waves of immigration, along with the cultural and demographic impact on the development of the United States. Time was also spent researching what makes children's museums and experience designs, aimed at children, successful. This was accomplished by looking at case studies, scholarly research articles, and databases discussing the concepts, and user personas.
After conducting my research I then used my insights to create an interactive timeline-based exhibition on the five major immigration waves that could be accessed both physically and digitally. I created the physical exhibition for the hallway gallery space in Hopkins Hall using the content that I had found during my secondary research. I digitally designed the space using both Illustrator and Indesign to bring it to life. In addition, I created an application prototype for the exhibition using Figma, so viewers can explore the exhibition content from any location.
In conclusion, this exhibition on the history of Immigration will be beneficial for all viewers across the globe who want to learn about the topic. With the current negative climate surrounding immigration in the United States, the creation of a children-friendly exhibition can help them to have a more positive and educated view of the topic.
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Keywords
Immigration History, Exhibition Design, Design Thesis 2025