Dedicated to preserving the memory of the shtetls, The Lost Shtetl Museum in Šeduva, Lithuania, welcomes visitors of all ages to explore a shared past that shapes our present and future.

Discover the rich history of Jewish life in Lithuania and the enduring stories of memory, resilience, and hope.

We were brought into the project to lead interactive design and development, by Ralph Appelbaum Associates. Working closely with RAA and the LSM curatorial team, we helped to shape the storytelling and led the design and development of several interactive installations.

A projection mapped model of Šeduva is the centrepiece of the Marketplace gallery. A large scale model, chiselled beautifully out of marble, is surrounded by projected sketches, drawn onto the floor in real-time as visitors approach. The tracks from carts, horses hoof prints and childrens’ drawings create a scene full of life, backed by a scrim projection and a spatial soundtrack of marketplace activity.

As visitors approach the model, they see several intriguing calls to action; “Where did people live?”, “Where did people study?”, “Where did people work?” and more. When approaching an area of interest, hidden depth-sensing cameras trigger playback of animated films, bringing the model to life, locating key buildings and themes with bespoke illustration and archive helping visitors to understand daily life in the shtetl.

Meanwhile, a looping animated projection tells the story of a week’s activity: locals visit the town square on market day, children make their way to the local schools, crowds gather for a visit from the president.

This organic, people-led story brings to life the human experience of the shtetl and the exhibit acts as a central menu for the museum experience. The topics covered in and around the model are expanded on, in greater depth, around the museum. Given the non-linear nature, visitors come back and forth to this model to contextualise their learning.

Nearby, the Choices gallery focuses on the dreams and realities of those living in Šeduva, during the interwar years. Here, traditionally styled, illustrated interactive stories tell the life stories of Hinda, Dovid and Pesya - three young people whose lives were shaped by their time in the shtetl. Alongside these stories, visitors are asked to consider their own dreams, and their roots, in two neighbouring interactive activities, to compare and contrast with those of other visitors as well as those who lived in the shtetl.

Trias led on AV integration, whilst Hypsos led on fabrication.

Visit the Lost Shtetl Museum website for more information, or to visit the museum exhibition in person.

The Lost Shtetl Museum, Žvejų street, Šeduva, Lithuania.

Media credits: © 2025 Lost Shtetl Museum, RAA, Andrew Lee, Dot Crew Digital Ltd.