Slides from my talk at UXCamp London March 2014, on user experience tips and idea when designing interactive installations for a museum or visitor center.

1. Thoughts on UXin’
for Museums

2. About me
• Blaise Galinier
• @blasj
• Lead UXer at AllofUs
• I have a cat on my
head

3. Disclaimer
“The greatest insights can
come from the flimsiest
evidence”
Ken Tmakethatstuffup
@blasj #uxcamplondon

4. Personas
• Think groups first
• Within a group,
consider individuals
Package E2 - Museography
Design Development Phase – 31 July 2012
Document No. 2012-RT-20-0019 5
Qatari family of 6
Two parents, 3 children and a
live-in nanny.
Two adults with a class of 35 children Western non-Qatari family
Two adults, 2 children
Group of friends
Three young females aged 21, 19, 23
Couple of friends
Two young male adults aged 18, 19
“We would like to spend some time
together and do something different.”
“Our friend told us the new Qatar Museum
is really cool!”
“We want our children to know their heritage ” “Our class is doing a module on Qatari history and this would
be a good way to teach the children.”
“We’ve lived here a for a while and would like to
connect more with Qatari culture.”
Single expat
One man, aged 40
“Here on business, I have a few
hours to spare”
We have created personas for 6 primary groups of visitors
@blasj #uxcamplondon

5. Learner types
• Read
• Observe
• Listen
• Do
• Make sure you’ve
always got
something for
everyone
@blasj #uxcamplondon

6. Dwell time
Document No. 2012-RT-20-0019 14
1. Short
Only see key content,
never go in depth.
Total visit time:
1.5 - 2 hours
Time per gallery:
1o mins avg
Time per exhibit:
1 - 2 mins avg
2. Long
See all key content and cherry-pick
some in depth content.
Total visit time:
4 hours
Time per gallery:
25 mins avg
Time per exhibit:
2 - 5 mins avg
3. Repeated visits
See all key and in depth content
(over several visits)
Total visit time:
8 hours
Time per gallery:
45 mins avg
Time per exhibit:
2 - 10 mins avg
Visitors will behave in different ways and no two visits will ever be the same.
To design each exhibit with the necessary degree of flexibility we have
considered three types of visits:
Do the math
@blasj #uxcamplondon

7. Content depth
Introduction
10 - 30 sec
Key message
1 - 2 min
In depth
2 - 15 min
1 min chunks
@blasj #uxcamplondon

8. Flow
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9. Flow
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10. Engagement mantra
1.Attract
2.Engage
3.Interact
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11. Engagement mantra
Physical objects
Cannot see the screen
Physical objects
General outline of content on screen
Small text
Animation (with subtitles)
Recommendations for content asset use at varying visitor distances
Interactive table
@blasj #uxcamplondon

12. Not everyone is in front
@blasj #uxcamplondon

13. Accessibility
• Museums usually have guidelines
• Working with architects
• Don’t forget foreigners
• Why not include disabilities in your
personas?
@blasj #uxcamplondon

14. Don’t forget
Pre-visit experience
Way-finding
Tickets
Transport
Set the mood
Post-visit experience
Takeaways
Online exhibits
Live data
Leave your mark
@blasj #uxcamplondon

15. Thank you!

16. By the way…
AllofUs is looking for a talented
mid-weight / senior UX designer…
Get in touch!
@blasj #uxcamplondon