In Fall 2017, Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa, issued a national call for proposals to design an innovative, interactive exhibition that reimagined classic lawn games through an ecological lens. During my tenure as an artist collaborating with the Institute for Design Research & Outreach (IDRO) at Iowa State University, I was selected to lead the development of the 2019 exhibit, Nature of the Games.

Working alongside a multidisciplinary team—including scientists, engineers, botanists, educators, students, and ecologists—we developed a suite of large-scale, transportable exhibits that invite visitors of all ages to explore key ecological concepts through immersive play. The exhibit opened at Reiman Gardens in May 2019, where each game was installed in a distinct garden environment, creating spatial and thematic dialogues between gameplay and the natural world.

Featured Games

• Scavenger Hunt
  An “I Spy”–inspired exploration featuring five oversized sculptures, each representing a major U.S. biome. Visitors search for subtle animal and plant adaptations hidden within, encouraging close observation and biome awareness.
• Morphing Morphology
  A tree-inspired cryptex that challenges visitors to align matching patterns of leaves, bark, and branches—inviting engagement with evolutionary traits and tree identification.
• Photosynthesize
  A walkable maze modeled after a maple leaf’s venation. Participants trace their way through the six essential components of photosynthesis, fostering understanding of plant processes and sunlight conversion.
• Food Web Chess
  A chess-inspired game with oversized pieces depicting wolves, hawks, turtles, insects, and plants. Players explore trophic levels and predator-prey relationships in a visual, kinetic way.
• Cause & Effect
  A double-sided tile puzzle showing how pollution or imbalance in one habitat can impact interconnected ecosystems. Each move challenges players to consider the ripple effects of environmental change.
• Consequence
  Drawing from the mechanics of KerPlunk, this game features sticks engraved with human actions that support or harm endangered plants. Players must remove or protect elements without causing collapse—mirroring real-world ecological fragility.
• BEEs Maze
  A playful bead maze designed for younger audiences, scaled for outdoor use and located near pollinator gardens. It celebrates the importance of bees in maintaining plant biodiversity and agricultural health.
• Connect Food
  A Connect-Four–style strategy game illustrating butterfly and moth life cycles. Visitors match and align species-specific stages—from egg to adult—reinforcing the interdependence of pollinators and host plants.

In addition to these artist-designed installations, Reiman Gardens staff developed three complementary exhibits in-house: a giant dice game, a “photo-op” card fan station, and a speed cube playhouse—further enhancing the visitor experience.

Collaborative Fabrication & Garden Integration

With fabrication support from over a dozen specialized makers in Iowa and Ohio, and input from engineers, students, and educators, Nature of the Games was constructed for both visual impact and structural longevity. The initial installation strategically placed each game within Reiman Gardens’ themed environments—including the Water-Wise Garden, Arboretum, Butterfly Wing, and Prairie Vista—enhancing the contextual learning of each piece.

A Traveling Exhibition

Following its premiere in Ames, the exhibit traveled to Leu Gardens in Orlando, Florida, in Spring 2020, bringing its playful environmental message to new audiences in a subtropical setting. Designed as a modular, mobile experience, Nature of the Games continues to be available for lease by public gardens, museums, and nature centers seeking to engage families through interactive education and outdoor exploration.