GROW: You are STARDUST. An Interactive Media Wall for a Children’s Law Court

Children attending court commonly face acute psychological vulnerability: trauma, disorientation, and the removal of agency in a system that is not often designed for their needs. Institutional court foyers are typically austere and anxiety-inducing. The brief, set by Court Services Victoria, was to create and install a permanent interactive artwork that meaningfully improves the experience of children and young people in this high-security, high-stakes environment, serving a culturally diverse community including a significant First Nations population. Our creative team also identified the need for: users to feel safe, the design to involve no physical contact, and no overt artwork instructions.

Working with Jarra Karalinar Steel (Boonwurrung, Wemba Wemba, Trawlwoolway), we developed a design, centred around ideas of growth and connection. Using an iterative prototyping-testing process we prioritised children and young people’s needs. By moving their bodies in front of a large screen, users grow a garden of flowers that blooms into a rich jungle and finally into a constellation of stars. Plant designs emerged from field research into indigenous flora surrounding the Courts. Cultural protocols guided the visual language that Steel developed, embedding South-Eastern Kulin heritage into the artwork’s essence. User identities are automatically obscured, meeting stringent government security requirements.

GROW offers children what legal institutions rarely provide: immediate positive feedback, sensory delight, and the feeling that their presence matters. In the galaxy sequence, users' silhouettes are outlined by constellations, a visual affirmation that they belong in the universe, that we are all connected, we are all made of stardust. The artwork operates autonomously, requiring no staff involvement. For the significant First Nations community attending the courts, Steel's aesthetic language makes Indigenous heritage visible and honoured within a government building, communicating respect through design. Ultimately, users experience joy in a meaningful experience that fosters a sense of belonging and connection.

No instructions are required proximity alone initiates the artwork.User testing involved people aged 2–77, including those with physical, psychological, and neurological disabilities.People’s body position, movement and gestures are translated into meaningful aesthetics depicting growth and positive transformation.The feeling of user agency is immediate. The three-scenes, Garden, Jungle, Galaxy, reward user engagement. The galaxy is only reachable through sustained participation. It’s a hidden bonus that rewards sustained engagement.Steel's South-Eastern Kulin visual language forms the texture and detail of every scene. First Nations cultural protocols were adhered to involving elder consultation and community engagement. The plants are based on indigenous species specific to Wyndham, their medicinal and cultural significance are embedded into the heart of the artwork. Facial identities and body detail are automatically obscured within the system. Enabling full physical interaction and meeting strict government security and privacy requirements.Shatterproof, reinforced mirrors surround the screen. They attract users to the space, they create a highly visible safe environment, and operate as an immersive infinity effect. Three floor-fixed circles invite user participation.The system is automatic, shutting-down nightly, self-initialising each morning, and in between user engagement the artwork features a calming, pulsing First Nations-textured sun, inviting participation.