Walker Art Center

Understanding what Makes an Inclusive and Welcoming Experience

HGA and the Walker Art Center’s primary goal for this research was to understand a first-time visitor’s behavior and experience during their journey in the art center in these specific areas of accessibility, sensory, wayfinding/signage, and the value of their experience. The real-time data was collected via remote ethnography, technology people-based sensors, and a reflective questionnaire. This data-driven approach was used to measure their perspectives on these factors and identify critical attributes influencing a first-time visitor’s experience to inform process, place, technology, and cultural solutions.

Accessibility – Barriers to Enjoyment 
What the visitor is looking for: My needs are met; I feel comfortable and safe getting around independently and reassured that there is someone near if I choose to ask for help. I can get around with dignity and fully participate in this experience. Select solutions: Stair tape for visibility, additional diverse seating with arms; height; and width, and have staff wear “Ask Me!” or “Here for You” shirts.

Sensory – Comfort and Expectations

  • What the visitor is looking for: I feel comfortable during transitions of exhibits, I’m not annoyed or distracted by loud noises inside exhibits or coming from another gallery, and I have control to ensure my sensory needs are met.
  • Select solutions: Designate / create mellow spaces for sensory breaks, highlight sensory information in wayfinding/maps, increase sound dampening, and signage to designate intense sensory exhibits

Wayfinding and Signage – Reinforcing Confidence

  • What the visitor is looking for: I know where I am, where I’m going, how to get there, and how to get to amenities like restrooms, elevators, and water. I know what I have seen and what I have yet to see. I am confident that I will not be shamed or reprimanded by spoken or unspoken “rules.”
  • Select solutions: Support exploration vs getting lost, communicate wayfinding information before arrival and before setting off into galleries, and utilize digital / interactive signage screens

Value of Experience – Fear of Missing Out

  • What the visitor is looking for: I didn’t miss anything and was confident that I experienced everything I wanted to, I was able to control and personalize my experience to support my needs, I was excited to see how an art center works, installs exhibits, and felt informed and encouraged to visit the incoming exhibits.
  • Select solutions: Group journeys thematically for a variety of experiences, clearly note start/finish and transitions, encourage interactions with in-gallery staff, and include interactive art that is created by visitors

 

 

Portfolio
Location

Minnepolis, MN

Building Type

Museum

Size


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