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Every year, museums and heritage sites around the world invest millions in developing and maintaining interactive exhibits. These exhibits are delightful, a source of wonder, inspiration and learning, providing joyous, memorable, shared experiences for adults and children alike. Or at least they can be. Sadly, many end up frustratingly difficult to operate, boring or perennially broken. Poor design, ill-conceived content and badly planned maintenance can lead to wasted resources and missed opportunities for enjoyment and learning.
Interactive Exhibits addresses this gap by bringing together the author’s three decades of experience and insight from across the museum and heritage sector. Providing an overview of the full exhibit life cycle – from initial concept and prototyping to installation and operation, and drawing on lessons from both successes and failures, this practical guide demystifies the process of creating interactive exhibits that truly work. Chapters include:
- what are interactive exhibits and why do you need them?
- what do good interactive exhibits look like?
- generating ideas for interactive exhibits
- working with exhibit developers
- looking after interactive exhibits
- the future of interactive exhibits.
A comprehensive and subject-defining text, this book is essential reading for museum and heritage professionals, exhibition designers and project managers as well as students studying to enter the museum and heritage sector.
Few aspects of exhibition-making are as engaging, or as challenging, as creating interactive experiences that genuinely connect with visitors. In this highly practical and deeply informed guide, Gammon distils years of experience into a resource that is both authoritative and accessible. Rich with examples, thoughtful reflection, and actionable advice, the book will help practitioners at every stage of their careers design interactives that are more purposeful, inclusive, and impactful. An essential addition to the bookshelf of anyone working in museums, science centres, heritage sites and cultural organisations.
— Alex Tyrrell, Director of Exhibitions, Interpretation and Design, Imperial War Museum
Ben Gammon is an independent consultant with 35 years’ experience in the museum and heritage sector. He was previously Head of Audience Research, and then Director of Learning and Audience Development at the Science Museum, London. As a consultant he has worked on many exhibition projects, including ones at Life Science Centre, Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery and the Bath Abbey Visitor Centre.
Introduction
Chapter 1: The What and Why of Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 2: Interactive Exhibits That Are Easy to Operate
Chapter 3: Interactive Exhibits That Are Appealing and Impactful
Chapter 4: Developing Ideas Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 5: Commissioning Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 6: Making Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 7: Installing Interactive Exhibits on the Museum Floor
Chapter 8: Looking After Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 9: The Future of Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 10: Conclusion