The Butterfly Garden

HMC Interactive created the Butterfly Garden as a portable attraction, ideal for parties, promotional events or any public space. The memorable interactive illusion creates digital butterflies that fly around a beautiful centrepiece of white lillies. Born in the palm of your hand, the interactive creatures flutter from flower to flower, until they eventually fly off into the ether.

Intelligent creatures

Users can interact with the artificially intelligent 3D butterflies by placing their hands above one of sixteen flowers, growing new and different butterflies in their palms. Entire groups of people can interact with the garden at any time - although too much activity will scare the butterflies, causing them to fly away.

HMC built the first version of the Butterfly Garden for the Submerge exhibition in Bristol, surrounding the main entrance with two sets of flowers planted on real grass turf. More recently the piece has been recreated for a Bridal show in Plymouth and a Literary festival in Cornwall.

Sensory interface

HMC designed the Butterfly Garden to be used by people of all ages and abilities. We wanted it to be free from a tangible interface like a keyboard or mouse, relying on custom sensor technology to birth creatures directly on your hand.

The solution HMC came up with is both effective and easy to use, combining natural flowers with rugged sensors to create a new and exciting way of interacting. The visually stunning piece is something that has to be seen to be believed.