Permanent and temporary museum exhibits can be fantastic to visit, as individuals, families or groups. Really, there are many reasons to make a museum outing, which include: learning, inspiration and the fact that one is probably just miles from where you live.
Colleen Dilenschneider, author of the blog "Know Your Own Bone" and chief market engagement officer for IMPACTS - wrote a particularly excellent article entitled, simply "10 Reasons to Visit a Museum". Check it out, it's a good read and might inspire you to get out there.
But what makes for a "good" museum design? Of course that boils down to the experience visitors receive while at the exhibit and the learning/entertainment value they take away.
Here are 10 tips for designing a great museum experience:
Draw Visitors to the Museum Exhibit, Create a Buzz
Whether designing a small local exhibit, focused on the community within close proximity, or a larger exhibit which relies on drawing visitors & tourists from afar - there has to be a buzz created around the museum/exhibit to ensure steady traffic.
Tell a Story, and Stories Within the Story
There is no better way to make your visitors feel like they are part of history or fully immersed than through the art of storytelling. Tell a linear story with your exhibit and don't forget the stories within the main story!
Use Gaming Technologies to Create Immersive Learning Experiences
Latest technologies from the gaming industries can be leveraged to create fun, exciting and interactive learning experiences which entire families can enjoy. Gaming isn't just for kids!
Create a Linear Flow Through the Exhibit
Just as stories are best told in a linear, often chronological manner - museum exhibits may also be arranged to "walk" visitors through history and give them a sense of time and place.
Embrace the Technology
Capture the attention of visitors by integrating technologies such as interactive kiosks, video and mobile apps. Not only will you be creating a more interesting exhibit, but younger visitors will feel quite at home.
Divide Large Exhibits into Sections
Embrace the idea of breaking a large exhibit into smaller, more digestible sections of artifacts and content. This will allow visitors to move from section to section and still get a sense of completion from each.
Use Graphic Design to Create Interest, Flow and Focus
The proper use of graphic design elements, from banners, to signs to labels - not only helps to paint a more complete and exciting picture of the content and artifacts but also help with traffic flow.
Present Art and Artifacts in Interesting Ways
Be creating creative and interesting ways of displaying the artwork or artifacts of your exhibit, you'll further immerse visitors.
Have Clear Audiences In-Mind When Planning
When planning your exhibit, be sure to have clearly identified "who" you are looking to attract, entertain and educate with your exhibit AND then design with them in-mind every step of the way!
Plan & Design With Goals As Your Road Map
You should have goals for your exhibit and these should be tested against over and over during planning, design and implementation. And measured against and refined if needed.