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— Museum UX-research: The Einsteins Media Guide
I initiated and conducted this self-funded UX-research project to explore how user testing could be applied in a museum context. In this field UX-testing is still rare in Germany.
My Responsibilities
Client
City of Ulm
Team
Solo project
Duration
3 months
Project focus
Problem
The museum’s media guide was developed without any user testing.
Key research question
How user-friendly is the media guide for visitors with varying technical skills and abilities?Objectives
Applying a User Test in a museum
Explore how UX research can be practically applied in a museum context
Showing the benefit of testing
Demonstrate the impact of user testing for cultural institutions
Personal Practice
Strengthen my own practical research, planning, analysis & facilitation skills
Media guide
The museum’s media guide acts as a smart and interactive companion. It enables users to expand the exhibition content virtually by simply scanning Codes. At a large family tree as well as many other points, it is possible to select different protagonists as guides. Their history can be explored with custom-made graphic novels and additional information in the context of the respective station.
You can find more information on the media guide ⟶ Here
Participants
I searched for visitors who had never been to the museum before. Because the museum is also visited by an older group of people, the sample group represented a wide age range and varying experience with tablets.
Methods
The study was conducted over a time span of 3 months, including planning, testing, and analysis. I used a GoPro with a chest strap worn by the participants to record the interaction with the iPad as well as the participants’ thoughts.
Pre-Interview
Background on museum visits and familiarity with tablets
On Site User Test
1:1 User Test, Think Aloud method, tasks completed independently, observed without assistance
Post-Interview
Reflections on positive and negative experiences during the test
Key Findings
The research revealed usability and accessibility issues on several levels — content, interaction, and exhibition design. The project also demonstrated that early user testing is essential, especially and also in museums and the public sector to ensure an inclusive design, to avoid costly post-construction changes and to align the work of different stakeholders.
❶ Simple instructions
Instructions need to be simpler and shorter, so visitors understand it more quickly and easily
❷ Inclusion
Less tech-familiar users need more support and instruction on how to scan a code
❸ Visual help
The help button, that shows an instruction video, should include a clear and short graphic guide
❹ Clear communication
Elsa Einstein’s graphic novel is not finished yet. This needs to be communicated more clearly to avoid irritations
❺ Ergonomy
In order to elderly people scanning the codes more conveniently, the codes should be placed higher
❻ Content
The first orange Code currently only shows content for one of the seven protagonists. It should be removed or enriched with more content
Outcome & potential for the museum
❶Improve the visitor experience and usability of the media guide
❷Reduce workload for exhibition staff
❸Increase visitor satisfaction and joy of use
Learnings & Successes
❶UX testing in museums is both feasible and valuable
❷Early involvement of users can save time, cost, and frustration later
❸Designing inclusive experiences requires observation, empathy, and iteration
Process
— Wanna work together?