A new node in the network: Creating the National Communication Museum \ Emily Siddons
Inheriting a heritage technology collection and an old telephone exchange with no specific brief, I will take audiences on a journey through the creation of the recently opened National Communication Museum (NCM). Conceived virtually during the COVID-19 lockdowns, I assembled a multidisciplinary team to craft a vision for a museum at the intersection of culture and technology. Framing the museum as a "machine for conversation," NCM positions visitors as nodes in an evolving, interconnected network. Using the tools of communication technologies, audiences are engaged in an active exchange, unlocking content through their gestures, actions, words, and choices. Bespoke chat interfaces connect visitors to the omnipresent and disembodied voice of the building, guiding them as they explore and select content that interests them. These interfaces display continually updating content that responds to central provocations such as: Do you code? What is the line between us and technology? and How do you navigate the unknown?
A heritage telecommunications collection forms the nucleus of the museum, providing a platform to explore cycles of innovation and obsolescence. Duplicate collection items are repurposed to create new interactives and artworks, where they are reinterpreted, augmented, and re-imagined. NCM's approach is experimental and adaptive, positioning the museum as a collaborative facility for ideas and exchange. Through prototypes, renders, installation footage, and final works, I will showcase some of the groundbreaking research we are leading, including training Leonardo.ai on our collection, spearheading commissions that challenge biases in emerging technologies, and employing the first robot citizen to lead our official opening proceedings.
Emily Siddons, National Communication Museum: Dr Emily Siddons is the Co-CEO and Artistic Director of the National Communication Museum where she leads the creative vision and development of this brand new museum. Previously she was Producer of Exhibitions at Museums Victoria, where she led the creative development and production of major exhibitions and experiences across the museum’s three sites. She has also held positions as Producer at The Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Associate Curator for Liquid Architecture and Public Programmer at The National Gallery of Victoria. Recently she completed a PhD at The University of Melbourne's Victorian College of the Arts, exploring new models of engagement for museums in contemporaneity.
Te Kōtiu - a 'world first' for Aotearoa aviation \ Karla Bo Johnson, Rachel Bush, Jess Gommers
Our presentation will highlight the award-winning digital projection experience Te Kōtiu in MOTAT’s Aviation Hall. It will peel back the layers of this ‘world first’ aviation experience, building a picture of the process undertaken to incorporate new content, including pūrakau Māori, tūturu Māori art, and inspiring stories of wāhine Māori and Pacific aerospace trailblazers.
Narrated in te reo Māori and English, Te Kōtiu (meaning to swoop / North-West wind) transforms the visitor experience from observing to immersing in the storytelling of aviation. We set out to create an inclusive experience that extended on the offering in the Aviation Hall to showcase the importance of flight through a te ao Māori lens.
MOTAT worked with digital agency and principal partner Waxeye. We collaborated with cultural advisors and experts, including kaumatua Hone Martin, to showcase the extraordinary manu kuaka/godwit migration and flight formation, featured throughout the projection experience.
Digitised manu aute kite works by artist Nikau Hindin take flight in Te Kōtiu, contextualised within Māori design and navigation technology.
This thought-provoking presentation will include inspiring quotes and imagery to highlight the importance of collaborating with cultural experts and advocating for representation and the inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives.
Karla Bo Johnson, Exhibitions Content Development Manager, MOTAT Museum of Transport and Technology: Karla Bo Johnson is a content and exhibitions expert with more than 15 years’ experience developing exhibitions within museums, including the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Auckland Museum and MOTAT. Karla Bo has managed the content planning for exhibition projects across MOTAT’s two sites, including Te Kōtiu in the Aviation Hall. Karla Bo currently manages the team of exhibition content developers, working across MOTAT’s on-site exhibitions and digital content projects.
Rachel Bush, Senior Exhibitions Content Developer, MOTAT Museum of Transport and Technology: Rachel Bush has more than 7 years’ experience developing content for temporary and long-term exhibition projects. As lead content developer for Te Kōtiu, Rachel actively engaged with a range of subject and collection experts to showcase inspiring stories of Aotearoa aviation. With a background in video and TV production, Rachel is a skilled storyteller across a range of media and frequently creates innovative and engaging exhibitions for MOTAT audiences.
Jessica Gommers, Design Manager, Exhibitions, MOTAT Museum of Transport and Technology: Jess Gommers is a design specialist with 20+ years' experience working within museums and galleries in Australia and New Zealand. As Design Manager, Exhibitions, Jess manages all aspects of the design process for temporary and permanent/long-term exhibitions, across both MOTAT sites, including design direction and production.
Building Bridges: How TU Delft Library’s Collection Wall Fosters Connections and Community \ Alice Motta Maia Bodanzky
TU Delft Library is reimagining its iconic book wall into the Collection Wall, an interactive platform that harnesses digital innovation to inspire exploration, discovery, and serendipity. By integrating AI, data visualisation, and heritage collections, this project addresses the evolving needs of learners and researchers, linking physical and digital collections to broader knowledge networks.
The Collection Wall embodies impact by fostering inclusion and accessibility while advancing cultural and educational enrichment. Developed collaboratively with students and faculty, prototypes connect collections to trending topics in research, education, and social media. User feedback guides iterative design, ensuring the platform evolves with community needs while promoting sustainable digital practices. The project also actively explores ways to make digital experiences welcoming and engaging for diverse audiences.
My presentation will explore the Collection Wall as a tool for fostering collaboration, enhancing accessibility, and advancing knowledge-sharing across sectors. By sharing prototypes and co-design approaches, I aim to inspire dialogue on how digital innovation can create meaningful connections and lasting community benefits, contributing to the Paorangi / Impact theme of NDF 2025.
Alice Motta Maia Bodanzky, Delft University of Technology: is Alice Bodanzky is Project Manager at the TU Delft Library, where she leads the Collection Wall project and helps to shape the library’s digital transformation and engagement strategy. She is also a member of the Library Innovation board. Her background is in Design and in Media Technology, and her work explores new ways of converging the physical and the digital realm to design meaningful and captivating experiences.