Cotton in My Hands

Team: Lloyd O'Bryant, Amani Evans, Keith Cheng, Brian Hunter, Brittany Myburgh
Overview

Cotton in My Hands is an impactful exhibition showcasing original artwork, photographs, and artifacts that capture the experiences of individuals who worked in cotton fields. The exhibition celebrates their resilience and strength while presenting an honest look at the physical and emotional hardships endured. This project seeks to bring the collection into the digital realm, enhancing access and engagement through a dedicated website and interactive digital interventions.

Tools
Digital tools for website design, Photo scanning and editing software
Discover
Define
Develop

The initial phase of Cotton in My Hands focused on understanding how best to digitize and honor the collection’s cultural and historical significance. We conducted research that included Dr. Sade Turnipseed’s scholarship on African American heritage and resilience, providing essential insights into respectful and impactful representation.

  • Historical Context: Dr. Turnipseed’s work on the lived experiences and societal roles of African American cotton field workers deepened our understanding of the collection’s cultural context. This knowledge informed the framing of each artifact, ensuring that digital users would grasp not only the physical but also the social and emotional conditions these individuals faced.
  • Community-Centered Approach: Emphasizing community voices, we want to explore ways to incorporate oral histories, narratives, and descendant stories alongside the collection. This approach creates a bridge for viewers to connect personally with the lives represented, transforming the digital experience into a space for empathy and reflection.
  • Visual and Emotional Storytelling: Recognizing the emotional power of visual media, we are working on designing a platform where artifacts could speak to the viewer through high-resolution images, interactive storytelling, and thoughtful descriptions.
  • Ethical Representation: An emphasis on ethical considerations helps shape our approach to digitizing sensitive content.

We synthesized our research to set specific goals:

  • Objectives: Develop a visually compelling, accessible website that houses the entire collection, allowing users to explore each piece in detail.
  • User Personas: Our target audience includes educators, history enthusiasts, art lovers, and digital visitors seeking to learn more about the lived experiences of cotton field workers.
  • Success Metrics: Success will be measured by engagement rates on the website, interaction with digital features, and feedback from users regarding the impact of the digital experience.

The design process involves creating an intuitive, immersive online experience that mirrors the emotional depth of the physical exhibition.

  • Prototypes and Testing: Created wireframes for the website layout, focusing on ease of navigation and visual impact. Prototypes for digital interactions were tested for accessibility and user-friendliness.
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