Design conscious investment and interpretive design: the case of museums, art galleries and cultural heritage attractions

Sterry, P

Abstract

The significant growth in museums, galleries and cultural heritage attractions in recent years is evidence of a wider leisure industry that is replicated internationally. There has also been a number of high profile millenium projects developed in the UK as heritage cultural attractions. Inevitably this has led to increased competition to attract visitors and to embrace strategies that retain existing ones.
Families in particluar are being highlighted and indeed, targeted as a new audience type. Exhibitions are designed with family activity in mind and exhibits on display increasingly designed to be interactive for all family members. The emphasis appears to be for innovative design, dynamic displays, informal learning and entertainment. The changing nature of design for interpretation especially in museums and galleries for family group activity reflects an emerging trend in design conscious investment. Yet there is little known or understood about what constitutes a family or indeed family group activity in museums and galleries and much is supposition. Research is crucial if we are to understand and develop design solutions that will be innovative, dynamic and aid commercial competitiveness.
This paper discusses aspects of a major research project now underway in the UK that is exploring family visitors and their response to design and interpretaion in leading museums and galleries. It is anticipated that the findings from this project will be of immense importance to the strategic use of design for heritage cultural attractions, to designers, clients and the briefing process.
The nature of family visitors response to exhibitions in various museums and galleries is explored in the research project as is also their respose to different types of interpretive design including graphic design, interpretive panels, interactive multi-media and innovative displays. The benefits of this design research may well find an international resonance across a number of related disciplines and integrated into other initiatives.

Citation

Sterry, P. (2005, September). Design conscious investment and interpretive design: the case of museums, art galleries and cultural heritage attractions. Presented at Joining Forces: International Conference on Design Research, University of Art and Design Helsinki, Finland

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: Joining Forces: International Conference on Design Research
• Conference Location: University of Art and Design Helsinki, Finland
• Start Date: Sep 22, 2005
• End Date: Sep 24, 2005
• Publication Date: May 9, 2006
• Deposit Date: Jan 29, 2009
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 29, 2009
• Keywords: Design research, interpretive design, museums, art galleries, family group visitors, heritage cultural attractions
• Publisher URL: http://www2.uiah.fi/joiningforces/papers/Sterry.pdf
• Related Public URLs: http://www2.uiah.fi/joiningforces/
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference