Wade House
Challenge
Accepted.
ZEBRADOG was challenged to design an evocative visitor experience centered on two historical horse-drawn carriages owned by Frank Lloyd Wright. We were tasked with creating moments and memories for all ages, ensuring all visitors could physically engage with the exhibition. No problem!
ZEBRADOG is a tremendous creative partner.
The visitor feedback I've received could not have exceeded my expectations more.
David Warner
Director, Wade House Historic Site
THE DETAILS
EXPERTISE
Brand Identity / Logo Design
Curation
Content Development
Interactive Media
Historical Storytelling
Strategic Planning
Storytelling
Visitor Experience
MARKET
Museums / Cultural Centers
Frank Lloyd Wright’s 150th Birthday presented the perfect opportunity for the Wisconsin Historical Society to imagine a unique exhibit showcasing rare archival material and beautifully restored carriages. Time was short and internal resources were tight—but Wade House reached out to ZEBRADOG to design, deliver and delight Wright fans of all ages from across the country. One of the most popular features of the new exhibit is the ‘Young Designer’s Workshop’—a highly interactive area dedicated to imaginative play. In addition to Froebel Blocks and Legos, visitors have the opportunity to create their own Frank Lloyd Wright stained glass design using a custom-developed ZEBRADOG app.
Areas of Impact
Historical Storytelling
The Wisconsin Historical Society wanted to bring the celebrated Taliesin photo album, rediscovered in the 1990s by Ron McCrea, together with Frank Lloyd Wright’s historic carriages for this special exhibition. On loan from the Society, the Taylor Woolley album offers a rare glimpse into life at Taliesin in 1911. Our custom lighting and framing ensure the photographs are both preserved and presented with clarity. Alongside the album, two meticulously restored carriages, renovated by the experts at Jung Carriage Museum, highlight the craftsmanship and attention to detail of the era.
Interactive Exhibits
ZEBRADOG designed three interactive stations where visitors can roll up their sleeves and create in the spirit of Wright. A custom-built application allows multiple visitors to simultaneously design their own colorscapes on Wright’s art glass. At the center of the Workshop, a specially designed crafted table invites guests to build like Wright, using his childhood Froebel Blocks alongside modern LEGO sets. In the Carriage Nook, visitors can select a book on Wright and settle in, evoking the feeling of arriving at Taliesin from the train station in Spring Green, Wisconsin.
Video Animation
ZEBRADOG designed a small sitting space and library with resources and books on Wright. A monitor in the library plays a 13-minute story video on Taliesin, written, directed, and produced by ZEBRADOG. Originally created for the Guggenheim Museum‘s Frank Lloyd Wright retrospective, From Within Outward, the animated film incorporated remarkable archival images provided through collaboration with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and notable Wright photographers, including Pedro Guerrero.
HUZZAH!
