5 KEY POINTS FOR SUCCESSFUL & INTERACTIVE MUSEUM SCENOGRAPHY

Innovative signage for museums and public places

museum | inspiration

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With the digital revolution, our relationship with technology has evolved. These far-reaching changes have resulted in a soaring number of digital devices. Growing demand from the public to experiment with new and innovative display media is being felt, particularly in museums.

Touch-screens, interactive devices, video projection walls and holograms are deemed as entertaining and striking, and are widely acclaimed by most sectors open to the public. In public transport for example we see interactive screens and in retail establishments offering customization solutions. They are also found in the performing arts and digital art installations. Innovative display solutions are ubiquitous.

It is crucial for cultural venues and museums to use these technologies efficiently. On the one hand, we must avoid the “gadget” aspect, by bringing genuine added value to the visitor's journey and experience. On the other hand, we must find the right balance between man and machine, so that collective experience and knowledge-sharing remain the central tenets.

How can this be achieved? How can we ensure a digital installation is successful?

1. CREATING EMOTION FOR VISITORS — BRINGING NEW PERSPECTIVES TO PROMOTE HERITAGE

Creating wonder is without a doubt an efficient way of stimulating curiosity.

Thanks to innovative devices, it is now possible to provide a new dimension to collections, to bring (back) to life artworks, objects, architectural elements and concepts (cartography, infographics, timeline and so on). A hard-hitting multimedia animation provides a new experience for visitors, who are thus immersed in the exhibition’s concept.

Take, for example, our project with the city of Tours, which incorporated one of our spherical screens in its multimedia room. The video content showcases 360° aerial views of historical places, filmed with a drone. In order to promote its architectural heritage, the city of Tours offers visitors an original, meditative journey through its iconic locations. This interactive experience allows the public to discover the city from a different perspective and complete their visiting experience from a different viewpoint.

2. DIGITAL CULTURAL MEDIATION — MAKING INTERACTION CENTRAL TO YOUR INSTITUTION | VISITOR RELATIONSHIP

Thanks to innovative display, visitor trails can be enhanced through discussions, on self-guided visits or guided tours. A wonderful mediation tool, it enables scientific and environmental concepts to be explained in a fun and educational way, interacting with visitors.

Innovative systems should help mediation teams transmit knowledge and be of use during workshops, guided tours and conferences.

INNOVATIVE DISPLAY COMBINED WITH A SOLID CULTURAL MEDIATION STRATEGY IS A GREAT TOOL FOR KNOWLEDGE TRANSMISSION, CULTURAL HERITAGE PROMOTION AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHARING WITH YOUR VISITORS.

3. INNOVATIVE DIGITAL SIGNAGE, A TOOL FOR KNOWLEDGE DEMOCRATIZATION

The digital revolution has brought about transmedia blending and innovative displays have become tools of popular culture. Cultural rediscovery can play its full role by proposing digital tools and contemporary interactive content. Museums are becoming places of communication, aiming to share knowledge in a fun and inclusive way. Visitors discuss what they see and everyone can make observations, interpret and interact.

It is crucial to promote mixed display solutions which are accessible to all, in order to meet different requirements.

4. PARTICIPATORY TEACHING, A NEW WAY OF LEARNING

Gamification enables learning while having fun — manipulation, exploration, quizzes, interactive lessons for several people, etc. The goal is to get children and adults involved through interactive programs. The fun, educational and interactive aspects are factors which influence the engagement of participants. It is easier to learn when there is a gamified theme. One example is The Big Bang Machine, a fun workshop on an interactive screen, designed for the Confluence Museum in Lyon. It invites children to travel into the Big Bang, with the help of a mediator.

Visitors move from being observers to being participants; they are involved and placed at the center of the digital experience.

5. CREATE A POLYMORPHIC AND EVOLUTIONARY TOOL

Digital technology allows flexibility and multiple uses.

On the one hand, you can make content evolve and expand with time, with new exhibitions and discoveries. On the other hand, innovative display allows you to create a tool which can be used both in self-guided tours and in conference mode. This makes it possible to develop a tailor-made tool that best suits your scenography and the concept of your exhibitions.

Pooling can also be established through partnerships with players in the cultural, artistic and education sectors.

To sum up, innovative signage associated with a solid cultural mediation strategy is a great tool for knowledge transmission, promoting cultural heritage and sharing with visitors, if its use and design are well defined to start with.

A dynamic and entertaining medium captivates visitors and transports them into a whole new dimension by informing them in a different way.

At Objeos, we believe it is essential to assist cultural institutions throughout innovative display mediation projects. In this regard, we invite you to read our article oncreative coaching.The goal is to find the best display solution and its adapted content, in order to provide an extraordinary experience, redesigned and enriched for visitors with a thirst for discovery.

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