“Learning to See,” the permanent exhibit at the Denver Botanic Gardens’ new Science Pyramid, brings to life the stories hidden within Colorado’s landscape. The experience is designed to provoke exploration and inspire wonder, helping visitors of all ages to recognize the complexity of the natural world around them and to understand their connection to the environment. It also highlights, for the first time, the research work conducted at the Gardens and the ways in which citizens can become involved in plant conservation research themselves.

The media-enriched exhibit is a responsive environment featuring a suite of experiences that showcase science in evocative and accessible ways. Lighting and software interface elements change in response to the temperature and wind speed at the Gardens, and unconventional interactive moments make the visit more tangible and sensory.

At once playful and information-focused, experiential and educational, “Learning to See” is much more than a typical science exhibit. With the geography, landscapes, and plants of Colorado inspiring everything from the color palette to the unique forms of the exhibit’s installations, the experience feels like a natural extension of a visit to the Gardens, a complement to the quiet and beauty of its spectacular setting.

Read the full case study with juror comments here: [http://www.aiga.org/cased-2015-winner-learning-to-see-exhibit]

“The thoughtfulness of the exhibit’s design allows the interactive experience between the visitor and the content to truly be the highlight. It’s immersive, elegant, restrained, and full of delightful details. My favorite detail is how the interactive pylons throughout the exhibit were inspired by the aspen trees common in the region.” —Alia Hassan