How Prototyping Shapes Engaging Museum Exhibits
Museums are no longer just static spaces filled with artifacts—they are evolving into immersive, interactive experiences that engage visitors on a deeper level. As part of this project, we explored how prototyping can be used to enhance museum experiences by designing tangible, interactive exhibits that educate, entertain, and inspire.
Project Overview: Bringing Ideas to Life Through Prototyping
The goal of this project was to teach students how to use prototyping as a tool to solve real-world design challenges. We were tasked with applying design thinking to create a tangible prototype for a museum exhibit, enhancing the way visitors interact with and experience the space.
This project encouraged us to think beyond screens, incorporating 3D models, physical prototypes, and interactive elements that could transform traditional exhibits into engaging, hands-on experiences. From games to digital installations, our designs aimed to make learning more immersive and enjoyable.
1. Research – Understanding the Museum Environment
Our project began with a visit to Lowe’s Art Museum, where we carefully analyzed different exhibit areas to identify opportunities for enhancing visitor engagement. By observing visitor behavior and interaction patterns, we sought to pinpoint areas where participation could be increased to improve both the learning experience and overall engagement.
2. Defining the Problem – Identifying Gaps in Engagement
Following our research, we conducted a workshop session to synthesize our observations and define key challenges.
🔎 Key Insight: We noticed that many children were playing rather than engaging with the exhibits in a meaningful way.
To create a more educational and immersive experience, we decided to focus on children as our primary user group. Our goal was to develop a solution that balances play with learning, making the exhibits more interactive and engaging for younger audiences.
3. Idea Generation – Brainstorming & Concept Development
With our user group defined, we held a brainstorming session to explore potential solutions. Using “How might we” questions, we encouraged divergent thinking and mapped out different approaches.
Our process included:
Writing down individual ideas on paper and grouping similar concepts to identify recurring themes.
Using a whiteboard to visually connect and merge ideas into a cohesive solution.
Force-fitting sub-ideas together to form a new concept that incorporated the best features from all suggestions.
Problem Statement: Enhancing Engagement & Learning for Young Museum Visitors
Children visiting the Lowe Art Museum are exposed to diverse art styles, cultures, and historical periods, yet the background information explaining these artworks is not effectively communicated. The current format presents three major challenges:
Difficult to Access: Information is primarily text-based, requiring children to read long descriptions instead of engaging visually.
Disconnected Placement: Background details are not located near the artwork, making it difficult for kids to connect the information with what they are observing.
Lack of Contextual Understanding: The existing explanations lack interactive or visual aids, making it harder for children to retain key details and fully appreciate the significance of each piece.
Our Area of Focus: The Totem Pole Exhibit
One of the key exhibits in the museum is a totem pole, yet it lacks any background information about:
The artist and their cultural influences.
The creation process behind the totem pole.
The symbolism and meaning embedded in the artwork.
This gap results in a missed learning opportunity for young visitors, as they are unable to engage with or understand the rich cultural narrative behind the piece.
By addressing these challenges, we aimed to design an interactive experience that enhances how children connect with and learn aboutthe museum’s exhibits.
4. The Solution – Designing an Interactive Arcade Experience
To address the problem of disengaged young visitors, we each developed individual solutions and created tangible prototypes. My idea was to design a vintage-style arcade game that encourages children to observe, interact, and learn about the totem pole exhibit in an engaging way.
Bringing Learning to Life Through Play
Concept: A vintage arcade game that challenges users to closely observe the totem pole to progress in the game.
Placement: The arcade would be installed in the Native American Tribal Art section, near the totem pole, creating a direct connection between the digital game and the physical artwork.
5. The Prototype – Bringing the Arcade Concept to Life
To demonstrate the look and feel of my arcade game, I created a tangible 3D prototype, showcasing how children would interact with the exhibit in an engaging and immersive way.
Building the Prototype
Materials Used: Cardboard, paint, and creativity to replicate a functional arcade machine.
Dummy Buttons: Designed to showcase how the game would be played, giving users a tactile preview of the interaction.
Visual Appeal: Used contrasting colors to grab children’s attention and make the arcade inviting.
The prototype served as a physical representation of how the arcade would enhance museum engagement, offering a hands-on, playful approach to learning about the totem pole.
Conclusion
Totem Tales is an interactive arcade game designed with a vintage aesthetic to captivate children’s attention and make museum learning fun and engaging. The game encourages users to observe the real totem pole exhibit, then replicate and interact with it in the game, ensuring they genuinely pay attention to its details.
The experience extends into a trivia-based challenge, where players answer questions about the totem pole’s history, meaning, and cultural significance. By combining observation with interactive storytelling, Totem Tales creates a playful yet educational experience for young visitors.
Why This Works?
Gamification encourages exploration and curiosity.
Bridges the gap between digital interaction and physical artwork.
Turns passive museum visits into engaging, hands-on learning experiences