Newfields Lab

TECHNOLOGY FOR NATURE & THE ARTS

Newfields Lab is a team of designers, developers, and digital strategists who create technology solutions for Newfields and other institutions in the cultural sector. We engage audiences in immersive experiences through technology by developing new ways for people to interact with art, nature, their environment, and one another.

We have the unique perspective of being a digital agency embedded within a cultural institution that focuses on both the arts and nature. Fostered by the depth and breadth of the expertise and support of its Newfields colleagues, the Lab takes a holistic approach to opportunities within its sector.

WE SPECIALIZE IN:

Digital collection integration
Access and exploration tools
Web design and development
Custom software development
AR/VR development
Mobile applications
Data and asset management
In-gallery technology that engages and entertains visitors

Our staff has a wide range of expertise and backgrounds, including backend and frontend software design and development, digital strategy, graphic design, content assessment, digital asset and data management, data analytics, digital content creation and management, and in-gallery interpretative applications.

SOME OF OUR LATEST PROJECTS:

DiscoverNewfields.org

While gearing up for the launch of the Newfields brand, the Lab, working in collaboration with a local advertising agency, developed an entirely new website for our institution. Mindfully incorporating the many diverse aspects of Newfields — the galleries, gardens, historic homes, and performance spaces — we gave content managers an easy-to-use CMS to prioritize events and exhibitions. We continue to serve as on-site developers and designers to update the website with new and improved features.

Miller House interior shot, Columbus, Indiana

Miller House VR

When rethinking the IMA Design Gallery, our curators were looking for a way to integrate our historic Miller House property into the exhibition. Located 50 miles away from the IMA Galleries in Columbus, Indiana, the Miller House is one of the finest examples of American modern architecture and an important part of our collection. The Lab developed a virtual reality experience for guests to walk through the interior of the house and learn about the important architectural and design features.

The Mariners’ Museum Online Collections

The Mariner’s Museum and Park of Newport News, Virginia, approached the Lab to build their online collections from the ground up. We integrated their collections, archives, library, and the collections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), into a searchable website with information-rich object pages and cross-referencing between collections.

American Art Collaborative

The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields is one of fourteen members of the American Art Collaborative (AAC), a group of art museums dedicated to creating a diverse critical mass of Linked Open Data (LOD) on the Web on the subject of American art. To further the work of this collaborative, the Lab has shared large data sets about our art collections and the artists represented in our collections. As Phase I of AAC activity comes to a close, the collaborative is currently looking towards the future. During Phase II, the Newfields Lab hopes to assist in growing the amount of art-related LOD on the web.

Digital In-Gallery Experiences

The Lab is always looking for new and unique ways we can support the goals of curators and interpretation staff at Newfields. We develop a wide range of custom software for the IMA Galleries, including:

Interactive kiosks
Virtual and mixed reality experiences
Projection mapping
Motion-sensing interactive games
3d modeling and printing