ACMI Renewal: The Lens

An 'enchanted object' that transforms the museum visit. We collaborated on a multi-million dollar renewal to turn a passive ticket into an active tool for collecting culture.

A visitor holding The Lens against an interactive display at ACMI.

The renewal of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) was a landmark project during my time as Co-Director at Sandpit. Working alongside US agency Second Story, the project reimagined the permanent exhibition into a connected, personalised visitor journey.

The Lens

At the heart of the renewal is The Lens — a free, recyclable device embedded with NFC technology. Visitors use it to ‘collect’ artworks, films, and moments as they move through the exhibition.

The Constellations

The Lens interacts with The Constellations: a series of touch-tables that map the vast landscape of film and digital culture. Visitors can later access their personal collection online, extending the exhibition experience long after they leave.