Immersive, Interactive Graphics Bring Learning to Life for River Mobile

The University of Dayton’s Rivers Institute strives to unite local organizations and communities to promote the region’s watershed, while preserving and protecting its resources. Institute representatives collaborated with Exhibit Concepts (Vandalia, OH) to develop the River Mobile, a 53-ft. semi-trailer that’s been converted into a mobile classroom that teaches Miami Valley schoolchildren about the importance of protecting local waterways. Exhibit Concepts developed five learning zones – geology, aquifer anatomy, natural habitat and wildlife, river geography and global impact – which included a series of hands-on activities, video presentations, murals and thematic scenes.

A map of the local watershed on the trailer’s exterior greets visitors. To create the wrap, Exhibit Concepts designed the graphics and messaging, and then hired Cincinnati-based Photo Lab Inc., which produced the wrap using LexJet’s SimpleFlo high-conformability, calendered media that’s printed on an Epson Stylus Pro GS 6000. Oracal’s Oraguard 290 cast overlaminate will help the wrap endure the environmental wear and tear.

The interior graphics feature a mix of materials:
• An 8 x 20-ft. wall mural was dye-sublimation-printed on low-pile carpet, which also helps reduce ambient noise;
• A series of interpretive panels was printed on white vinyl and adhered to black Sintra® composite-material discs;
• On a water-pipe display, inkjet-printed graphics were mounted on a ¾-in.-thick, MDF backdrop attached to the pipes with metal brackets;
• A multi-layer graphic incorporates a 360º, 8 x 50-ft. mural printed on the Epson printer with SimpleFlo material and a PermaFlex topcoat, and 3-D props that were contour-cut with ¼-in.-thick Sintra.

Practically every exhibit that targets students requires an electronic display to grab their attention. The River Mobile includes a 55-in. Elo digital-touchscreen sign. When the screen is touched, a Roku player uploads the content, which defines what an aquifer is, and how it fills and filters water before discharging it. Mainsail Productions (Miamisburg, OH) partnered with Exhibit Concepts to create the animation and audio component.

Michael Mudry, Exhibit Concepts’ VP of marketing and creative, said, “For most projects today, there’s an expectation of promoting interactivity and engagement. This initiative lent itself to digital media because of the audience demographics and amount of content that needed to be delivered.” He continued, “It was exciting to collaborate on the project with UD students. Their energy was inspiring, and it was fun to design the concept completely from the ground up. The challenges were making sure the content conformed to the state of Ohio’s education guidelines, and to ensure it was scaleable and able to expand with future additions.”