Glimmers in the Dark : Enhancing Museum Experiences Through Interaction Design at the Natural History Museum of Denmark

Abstract: In a digital and fast-paced world, museums are constantly updating their practices to support visitors’ experiences and interactive exhibits are increasingly gaining popularity. I collaborated with the Natural History Museum of Denmark to design an interactive room for their upcoming new building, specifically for the exhibit with the working title “Night in the Open Land”. The project adopted a design methodology that focused on playfulness and senses and included experience prototyping with museum visitors. The final prototype was designed to replicate a slow and contemplative experience of being outside at night. A playful interactive flashlight was used to find hidden animals and interact with the exhibition, enhancing exploration. The torchlight and the sounds and movements of visitors served as input for an interactive system, which produced sounds, video and smell as outputs. The flashlight enhanced the playful and explorative aspect of the room and allowed for shared and focused attention by all family members. Furthermore, olfactory stimuli were highly appreciated by visitors. At the intersection between museum studies and Interaction Design, this project is relevant to Interaction-as-Experience and reinforces how multisensory interactive exhibits are effective in catering to diverse audiences. The results of this project suggest that incorporating interaction design into public spaces like museums can enhance visitors’ experiences, fostering engagement, learning, and enjoyment.