Art Processors, the experiential design consultancy, has collaborated with the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, US on its new Midway’s Engineers: Service, Sacrifice and Everyday Life exhibition.
This exhibition champions the heroic work of the engineering department on aircraft carriers. Art Processors developed the exhibition so that the story is told by the USS Midway itself, the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the 20th century.
Julie Flechoux, creative director, says: “Our main goal was for the ship itself to serve as the primary storytelling medium. We transformed the original bunks, lockers, pipes, and equipment into vessels that reveal stories through visitor interactions. Atmospheric lighting, audio, and projections combine to create a cinematic experience, vividly illustrating life and work aboard the Midway.”
The exhibition spans 5,400 square feet with nine thematic galleries that can be freely explored. It aims to inspire curiosity in the museum’s visitors, which surpass 1 million people each year, and to enhance understanding of the double role that engineers play.
Engineers are not only critical to the ship’s operations and maintenance but also serve as first responders during fire emergencies—the most serious danger at sea.
Multi-sensory storytelling
The multi-sensory experience uses first-person audio storytelling with the authentic voices of past engineers, combined with textured lighting, large-scale photography, motion-triggered audio and soundscapes, motion graphics and interactive artefacts. As visitors move through the ship, the exhibits come to life and respond to their presence.
The entry experience introduces visitors to naval engineering today and through history, set against ambient engine sounds and floor vibrations. They then learn how the engineers harnessed the power of steam for a wide range of uses on board, from generating electricity to catapulting planes into the air.
The What is Engineering? gallery transports visitors into the world of the Midway’s engineering crew. An interactive invites them to touch the exhibits, which then activates stories of shipboard engineering. For example, the Engine Order Telegraph and Caliper Kit explore narratives around communication and precision manufacturing. The table is accompanied by illuminated bunks which highlight different engineering specialisms with testimonials and large-scale historic photographs.
In the Who is Engineering? gallery, visitors enter a carefully recreated living space of the USS Midway’s engineers and explore the sailors’ lives in a deeply personal way. Motion-triggered bunks and lockers filled with uniforms, letters, and personal belongings, narrated by audio stories.
Intense audiovisuals
Fire! Fire! Fire! is a three-part exhibit which offers a highly evocative ending to the experience. Here, visitors discover the realities of fire onboard a ship through archival footage, replica alarms, pulsing red lights and dramatic projections. The gallery’s powerful audiovisuals convey an overwhelming feeling of urgency and danger, emphasising engineers’ vital role as first responders.
The story unfolds in Firefight: Every Second Counts, when visitors enter a practical training environment created as an object theatre experience. Tactical firefighting equipment and tools are highlighted with dynamic three-sided projections and deep, immersive sound that detail the complexities of naval firefighting.
In addition to spreading awareness of the critical value of preparation and expertise, this area celebrates the crew’s bravery and readiness through coordinated music and images.
The exhibit concludes with the Fire Experience, which immerses guests in a sensory overload of a maritime fire scenario, using a combination of extreme sound, light, and visual effects to simulate the sailors’ perilous situations.
Life-size simulations offer an insight into the physical and emotional cost of such events, making this series of galleries a cohesive, escalating experience that emphasises the importance of preparedness, competence, and courage in naval firefighting.
Commemorating the crew
Following the intensity of the Fire Experience, the contemplative Saving the Ship gallery allows guests to consider the historical and emotional consequences of shipboard fires. Soft lighting and translucent scrims show photos and stories that encourage reflection on past sacrifices and the crew’s perseverance. A touching tribute to the USS Midway crew, complete with ambient music and historical images, presents a respectful environment for reflecting and remembering.
By embracing the ship as the primary narrative and using its exposed pipes, low ceilings, and cramped spaces as an architectural canvas, Art Processors has injected realism and emotional depth into the Midway’s Engineers: Service, Sacrifice, and Everyday Life displays.
The creative approach transforms the ship’s structure into an engaging backdrop that brings history to life, making the exhibition both educational and deeply touching. The experience is a striking monument to the resilience and innovation that flourished on one of America’s most iconic ships, evoking the spirit of the Midway and commemorating those who served there.
Last week, Art Processors announced that Mark Nihill, CEO, has been appointed to the Fast Company Impact Council, an international collective of design and business leaders.
