Ex Libris: Interactive Experience

Nature is magical – but it is under threat. This was the key motif behind the immersive experience entitled “Magical Forest”, which was developed by students at the Media University (HdM). The project was inspired by fairy tales and escape room mechanics, combining design with a message: Humanity itself is endangering its habitat – this can only be compensated through active intervention.

The journey started in an ancient library. Living books and talking paintings told the story of the character Billy, who fell out of a book and caused chaos in the magical forest. However, Billy’s antics were more than just playful ideas – they symbolised human influence on the environment. It was now up to the visitors to save the forest and preserve its magic…

After being led into the library, the participants stepped into the fairytale forest – a world of luminous mushrooms, moving flowers and interactive trees. Four tasks had to be mastered. These included lifting a stone out of a well by pulling hoists simultaneously and putting the magic mushrooms in the right frequency using touch. Real books, moving images and the light and sound design generated a setting that brought together technology and storytelling. It consisted of interactive mechanical elements, combined with digital interfaces with the help of hidden sensors, LED walls, fragrance dispensers and specially developed mechanics realised through 3D printing.

Combining the leisurely narrative style of a fairy tale with the contemporary dynamics of an escape room presented a particular challenge. It was about creating a balance between intuitive usability, self-explanatory interactions and a system that was capable of maintaining tension as well as immersion.