Built to Be Touched: Reimagining the Cranmer Abacus
Planning and designing The Dot Experience has truly been a joint effort between APH and Solid Light. APH provides the content, perspective, and direction, while Solid Light brings the exhibit design expertise needed to translate those ideas into engaging, interactive experiences. It isn’t always a linear process—it’s a back-and-forth dance as we work together to find solutions that both reflect who APH is and can stand the test of time, including the touch of thousands of visitors each year.
If you’ve attended an Abacus Bee, taken an APH production tour, or follow APH on social media, you may already be familiar with the giant Cranmer abacus that travels with us to events. That original piece was the brainchild of several talented individuals in APH’s model shop—the hub of APH product innovation, experimentation, and hands-on problem solving. It quickly became an iconic symbol of play, learning, and curiosity.
When it came time to design the lobby, which will also serve as the new front door to APH, we knew we needed to capture that same innovative and playful spirit. The space needed to highlight the importance of multi-sensory communication and encourage visitors to step out of their comfort zones and engage with the exhibits by getting hands-on. It felt only natural that our iconic abacus serve as a guidepost to help set the tone for the entire experience. While the original abacus had certainly stood the test of many an Abacus Bee, it wasn’t built to withstand tens of thousands of visitors touching, exploring, and learning from it year after year. And so, the dance began.
It quickly became clear that this was an element that would require close collaboration between both teams to bring to life. After talking through several options, we landed on an approach where Solid Light would build the supporting structure, into which an APH-designed abacus could be integrated. This solution required both teams to work in tandem throughout the build process, closely coordinating measurements, scale, and materials to ensure the best possible visitor experience.
Our team in the model shop brought deep experience and knowledge of APH products, users, and values, while Solid Light ensured that our classic Cranmer abacus would have the durability and infrastructure needed for long-term public interaction. This abacus is just one of many places throughout The Dot Experience where visitors will be invited to explore, question, and interact. By encouraging hands-on discovery, we’re acknowledging that tactile learning benefits all students, and that touch is a fundamental way we experience and understand the world. Just as importantly, shared play creates moments of connection. Learning side by side, experimenting together, and discovering through play—especially among children—is incredibly powerful.
That spirit of shared exploration is at the heart of The Dot Experience, and it’s what we hope every visitor feels the moment they walk through the door. As this collaboration continues to take shape, we’re excited to share more behind-the-scenes moments, design decisions, and milestones along the way. Stay tuned for future updates as we continue refining the details and bringing The Dot Experience to life.