TECH TALES: An immersive storyworld for children of the present

We are happy to announce the premiere of TECH TALES, our immersive exhibition for children of the present, opening on 25 September at the main headquarters of Vienna Design Week.

*Location: Festival Headquarters, Hietzinger Kai 101
*Dates: 25 September – 4 October
*Opening hours: 11:00-19:00

A twist in the tale: what if characters from fairy tales asked you for help?

 

In Tech Tales, children meet Allen, Desiree, Frog and the Princess. They listen to their stories about challenges that might sound surprisingly familiar: a dream that feels impossible, a child who is being left out, an unexpected friendship. At different points in their stories, the characters need help. Children are invited to draw, make sounds, or build elements. Their contribution helps the characters continue their story and find a way to overcome their challenge.

These playful acts of creativity and participation give children the opportunity to explore different ideas, emotions and points of view. In Tech Tales, a small twist in perspective can change a story, and a touch of curiosity can open up playful opportunities to talk about emotions.

A place to pause: what do we do when emotions become too big?

 

The exhibition also includes a shared space dedicated to emotions. Here, children can slow down, take a moment for themselves, create stories of their own or explore how different emotions are expressed and try some simple breathing exercises that can help recognise and manage moments when emotions become overwhelming.

Learning through experience

 

Tech Tales is designed as an immersive exhibition for children that combines storytelling, animation, play and exploration. Through a series of storyworlds, children follow a defined narrative and emotional arc, while their contributions become part of the experience.

The exhibition explores themes of identity, belonging, friendship and the acceptance of diversity, but rather than explaining these ideas to children, Tech Tales gives them the opportunity to experience them through movement, drawing, building or storytelling. This fosters curiosity in children and gives them the space to see things from another’s perspective.

And that is how empathy can grow: through interaction and connection, through an interest in other people’s experiences, and through learning to recognise emotions in ourselves and in those around us. Tech Tales gives children the opportunity to explore these aspects through their own actions, rather than through instructions.