moma moment
a collective museum canvas
A collective digital canvas where strangers sit around a circular table and make art together.
MoMA MoMENT reimagines the museum as a vibrant public forum where art is not just observed but co-created. Hand-tracking turns every gesture into a stroke on a shared drawing, transforming strangers into creative partners — and each piece is captured in a personal "MoMA MoMENT diary" that doubles as memorabilia and a logbook of visits.
the challenge
Four hours at the first-ever MoMA hackathon.
Out of 65 teams that applied, we were among the 10 selected for the sprint organized by NYU School of Professional Studies, responding to the prompt:
"How might MoMA reimagine the onsite visitor experience, through design, technology, or communication, to help visitors discover art that resonates with them, and feel more connected before, during, and after their visit?"
The three of us pulled from our own memories at MoMA and realized the moments that stayed with us were the ones where we were fully participating with the art, or present with other people. The museum's greatest asset isn't just the art — it's a space to gather.
the proposal
Before, during, and after the visit.
- before — understanding the audience. 42% of repeat visitors don't return within a year, and MoMA is shifting its focus toward visitors 35 and under who value self-expression and community. The museum becomes a public forum for gathering, not just a gallery.
- during — the collective canvas. A circular table with overhead projectors and computer vision lets visitors paint on a digital surface with their hands, no phones needed. The pilot borrows the palette and brushstrokes of Van Gogh's Starry Night — the most asked-about work in the lobby — so visitors draw like their favorite artist, together. The circular design invites "New York magic": spontaneous conversation between strangers.
- after — the digital museum diary. Visitors email their creations to themselves, building a MoMA MoMENT diary that tracks lifetime visits. The installation's palette changes with the ongoing exhibition, turning the diary into an evolving passport — and the plug-and-play system scales to any artist or show.
demos
The canvas in action.
technology
MediaPipe hand-tracking, HTML/CSS/JS, and GSAP.
MediaPipe is the backbone of the project: it tracks where you intend to draw. Pinching activates drawing, and hovering on an element for a few seconds acts as a click. Camera selection and monitor calibration accommodate different hardware for a smooth setup.
Because the canvas is shared with strangers, hitting "share" asks you to define the area you want to keep — circle just your drawing, or include your neighbors'. The saved moment lands in your diary with the date of your visit, your sketch, and a fun fact about the artist behind that day's palette.
try it
The live canvas, right here.
The demo below is the real thing — allow camera access and pinch to draw, or open it full-screen ↗.
reflection
In an age of AI, creativity and self-expression are the museum's advantage.
By turning a visit into a participatory act, MoMA transforms from a quiet observer of the past into a leader of participatory museum experiences. Art becomes more meaningful when you make it together with other people, as part of the museum community.
featured in: moma x nyu sps hackathon.
hello world! i'm ranjani, a multidisciplinary designer building digital experiences rooted in play, participation and storytelling.
my work spans visual design, branding, 3D, interactivity & motion, using emerging tech and AI assisted code to create new possibilities.
i find being defined by a single box too confining-- instead, i see my work as a grid. an interconnected system of all that i'm curious about.
if you haven't already, click and play on the grid by dragging your cursor on it. and don't forget to sign my guestbook!remember to sign my guestbook before you go!
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