Abstract
In a world where stillness and silence are increasingly hard to come by, museums can provide space for slowness, reflection and contemplation that contributes to wellbeing as well as inclusion of communities. This paper maps my current-ongoing PhD research into the benefits of a slow approach to designing museum experiences, as well as how this research contributes to a larger project making Bendigo Art Gallery more inclusive of blind and low vision (BLV) visitors. It guides the reader through a metaphorical museum visit, where inclusion and wellbeing are the exhibition subject. The reader is invited to engage with sensory design interventions which aim to address the absence of accessible materials for BLV visitors in museums and discusses the potential for innovative design in this––––––space.
Keywords
Sensory design, Inclusive design, Wellbeing, Slowness
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/nordes.2023.38
Citation
Hall, J.(2023) Sensation and contemplation: A slow approach to designing inclusive museum experiences, in Holmlid, S., Rodrigues, V., Westin, C., Krogh, P. G., Mäkelä, M., Svanaes, D., Wikberg-Nilsson, Å (eds.), Nordes 2023: This Space Intentionally Left Blank, 12-14 June, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden. https://doi.org/10.21606/nordes.2023.38
Conference Track
exploratorypapers
Sensation and contemplation: A slow approach to designing inclusive museum experiences
In a world where stillness and silence are increasingly hard to come by, museums can provide space for slowness, reflection and contemplation that contributes to wellbeing as well as inclusion of communities. This paper maps my current-ongoing PhD research into the benefits of a slow approach to designing museum experiences, as well as how this research contributes to a larger project making Bendigo Art Gallery more inclusive of blind and low vision (BLV) visitors. It guides the reader through a metaphorical museum visit, where inclusion and wellbeing are the exhibition subject. The reader is invited to engage with sensory design interventions which aim to address the absence of accessible materials for BLV visitors in museums and discusses the potential for innovative design in this––––––space.