I've been studying and practicing participatory design techniques for several years. Here are three things I've learned that have really surprised me and significantly shifted my work. First presented to the Museum of Vancouver on May 26, 2010 by Nina Simon, Museum 2.0.

1. A DISCUSSION WITH NINA SIMON
nina@museumtwo.com @ninaksimon on twitter slides at http://bit.ly/ninathree

2. where i live

3. what i do
balboa park online collaborative
boston children’s museum
calgary science center
chabot space science center
chicago history museum
denver art museum
experience music project
girls math and science partnership
international spy museum
monterey bay aquarium
oakland museum
SFMOMA
smithsonian museum of natural history
statens museum for kunst
tech museum of innovation

4. what i advocate
the participatory institution
is a place where visitors can
create, share, and connect
with each other around
content.

5. in cultural institutions, that can mean...
Cantor Art Center lower: Chicago Children’s Museum Minnesota History Center
lower: Science Museum of Minnesota

6. THREE SURPRISING THINGS
I’VE LEARNED ABOUT
DESIGN FOR PARTICIPATION

7. LESSON 1:
MORE SCAFFOLDING! MORE CONSTRAINTS!

9. Denver Art Museum

10. Denver Art Museum
90,000 visitors, 37,000 posters made
average time spent making a poster: 25 minutes

11. GoMA

12. Find someone about your height to help you with this exhibit
GoMA

13. Find someone aboutyour gender to help you with this exhibit
Ask a stranger of your height do this activity with you
GoMA

14. LESSON 2:
PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE DIFFERENT THINGS WHEN
GIVEN DIFFERENT PROMPTS & INPUT MECHANISMS.

16. Lowell National Historical Park

19. “The percentage of ‘unrelated’ responses
decreased from 58% (white cards) to 40% (blue
cards), and ‘specific’ responses nearly doubled,
from 28% (white) to 50% (blue).”
http://www.participatorymuseum.org/ref3-16/

20. LESSON 3:
RESPONSIVENESS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
ANYTHING ELSE.

22. HOW CAN VISITORS MAKE
THIS PROJECT BETTER?

25. Worcester City Gallery and Museum

26. Worcester City Gallery and Museum

27. Worcester City Gallery and Museum

28. “At first, I wasn't sure whether or not my
responses were useful to anybody. It took a
long time for any feedback to filter through.
When it did come I really appreciated Nina's
thanks and encouragement. That's what kept
me coming back to the site.”
http://museumtwo.blogspot.com/2010/03/participatory-museum-process-part-2.html

29. HOW CAN VISITORS MAKE
YOUR INSTITUTION BETTER?

30. A DISCUSSION WITH NINA SIMON
nina@museumtwo.com @ninaksimon on twitter slides at http://bit.ly/ninathree