Heaven Hill Brand Gallery
Exhibit & Interactive Design
Client
Heaven
Hill Distillery
Year
2021
My Role
Lead Interactive Designer
As part of its expanded visitor center, Heaven Hill Distillery developed a Brand Gallery to bring its two flagship bourbons, Elijah Craig and Larceny, to life through immersive, multi-sensory storytelling. As Lead Interactive Experience Designer, I shaped the strategy and execution of two complementary installations: The Art of Charring for Elijah Craig and The Magical Warehouse Ledger for Larceny. Together, they created a cohesive narrative system blending spatial design, tactile interaction, and responsive media to deepen visitor engagement and reinforce brand identity.
Elijah Craig: The Art of Charring
At the heart of the Elijah Craig gallery, The Art of Charring immerses visitors in the elemental process of barrel charring, a defining step in bourbon-making. I directed the design from concept through execution, developing the physical structure, digital components, and sensory effects. A touchscreen styled as a barrel cross-section lets visitors explore different char levels, triggering projections of flame and smoke while revealing how charring shapes flavor and aroma. Real charred wood samples, lighting, and scent cues grounded the installation in material authenticity, creating a visceral connection to the brand’s craftsmanship.
Larceny: The Magical Warehouse Ledger
In the adjacent Larceny gallery, The Magical Warehouse Ledger transports visitors into the mythology of John E. Fitzgerald, a legendary treasury agent associated with the brand’s origin story. Set within a richly detailed 19th-century office, the installation layers storytelling with responsive media. A glowing ledger embedded with touch-activated 3D objects reveals Fitzgerald’s secrets through visual effects, ambient audio, and interpretive content. Reactive props and environmental details, including flickering bottles and animated artifacts, enhanced discovery, building an atmosphere of intrigue and playful brand immersion.