Organization: Conner Prairie
Role: Lead Designer / Project Lead
Completed: 2026
Status: Built
Key Contributions: Concept Development | Experience Design | 3D Modeling | Production | Installation | Accessibility Collaboration
The Opportunity
As part of Conner Prairie’s new Museum Experience Center, a dedicated sensory room was created to provide a comfortable place for guests who may need a break from the stimulation of the museum environment. We also wanted the room to feel connected to Conner Prairie rather than like a generic support space.
That meant finding a balance between creating a space that felt welcoming and thoughtfully designed without making the room an attraction of its own. It needed to support its primary purpose as a sensory retreat while still feeling like a natural part of the overall guest experience.
My Role & Approach
I led the design and development of the sensory room from initial concept through installation. My role included concept development, experience design, 3D modeling, production, and installation. I also worked with sensory consultants to help ensure that the design and individual elements were appropriate for the guests the room was intended to serve.
The “Camp Out” concept grew from the idea of creating a space that felt distinctly Conner Prairie while remaining quiet and comfortable. Drawing inspiration from the outdoors, the room was designed as a peaceful campsite where guests could step away from the larger museum experience when they needed a break.
Design Development
The campsite concept provided a framework for developing the room while allowing each element to serve a specific purpose. Early concepts were developed in SketchUp to explore the layout, scale, and relationship between the different elements before moving into production.
Click here to view the 3D model in SketchUp
The Result
The sensory room opened with the Museum Experience Center in 2026 and now provides a dedicated sensory space for guests who need a break during their visit. The finished room closely reflects the original concept, creating a quiet campsite environment that feels connected to Conner Prairie while serving a very different purpose from the experiences around it.
