Interactivity in Museums – Kolding

Kolding Design School
Faculty: Isabel Froes

How can the visitor’s understanding of a museum exhibition or object be enhanced through an interactive installation? The course began with an introduction to the museum as a specific context for implementing interactive projects:

Why are museums reluctant to introduce this type of technology? How have museums traditionally communicated with their audience? What are the expectations of the museum audience today? What is the current situation for museums in terms of funding for interactive projects?

A chosen museum serves as a specific case for the students’ development of interactive projects. Students developed proposals and prototypes for specific exhibition projects outlined by the museum. For instance: how can the museum’s digitised collection of art works be presented in the physical museum space in an manner which is both innovative, educational and respectful of the museum context?

Students were introduced to a range of prototyping techniques: electronics and physical prototyping with Arduino and screen-based prototyping with Processing and Flash. Short, introductory assignments increased familiarity with the tools and confidence and knowledge to use them in larger project.

Most of the time was spent on the development of prototype(s) of the primary design proposals. Emphasis was placed on the selection of the aspects of the design to be prototyped and on using the prototype to evaluate and inspire the design. Students were encouraged to work in teams and assist each other with the development of concepts and prototypes.