Commercial Integrator April 2023 - 52

MARKETS: MUSEUMS
Top Integration Trends in
Museums and Exhibit Spaces
Personalized and immersive audiovisual experiences, thoughtful design and inclusivity are
paramount to any successful installation, whether temporary or permanent. By Alyssa Borelli
HAVING AN interactive element to
connect museumgoers and exhibits is becoming
less of a " nice to have " and more
of a requirement. As we come out of the
COVID-19 pandemic, many of us want
to reach out and touch something, be in
a room with somebody and experience
things firsthand. " Premium [audiovisual]
experiences, design and inclusivity are
paramount to a successful temporary or
permanent installation, " Matt Wilson,
CTS, director of marketing for integration
firm McCann Systems, says. Indeed,
reaching that " premium " tier is increasingly
essential to attract visitors to a
themed experience - and to keep them
coming back.
Chris Johnson, director of strategic
partnerships at experiential integration firm
Electrosonic, adds texture to the conversation,
saying that, yes, a lot is changing
in the museum world, but a lot is staying
the same. " [All the typical technology]
still exists, " he says, pointing to interactive
exhibits with touchscreens and projectors.
The questions are what provides the best
performance and how visitors can engage
with the technology.
Here, we will explore key trends that
are shaping the museum and exhibit
vertical today.
A Growing Demand for LED
Over the last 20 years, the most costeffective
way for integrators to fill museum
clients' large spaces was projection. Now,
however, the price point for DVLED technology
has come down, making it a more
affordable option for museums. Electrosonic,
for its part, is working with a number
of museums that are designing DVLED into
their core exhibit space. " LED is a win-win
for museums, " Johnson observes. " There's
less maintenance compared to projectors,
where one has to align it just right, adjust
the color balance and ensure the air ducts
52
Commercial Integrator APRIL 2023
Visitors are more likely to return when they know a museum or gallery has considered
their needs and sought to provide a personalized and inclusive experience.
are clean. " By contrast, he says, " With LED,
it's set it and forget it. " That's not mention
that DVLED provides a longer lifespan.
Accordingly, Johnson adds, as these newer
technologies become more affordable and
more widely adopted, they're becoming
the norm in exhibit designs.
Acceptance of BYOD
One trend emerging from the pandemic
is the growing acceptance of bring-yourown-device
(BYOD) functionality. Most
museums don't want to create and maintain
an app, says Chris Moore, executive
consultant at Electrosonic, adding that they
usually don't have the staff for it. Leveraging
BYOD not only allows a lot of versatility
but also offers a different way to consume
content and fresh engagement options.
Now, post-pandemic, we want to be
entertained; we want an experience that's
worth visiting. With BYOD, a visitor can
have a more personalized experience from
what their friend standing next to them
might be having. There's every reason to
expect to see more museums and exhibits
taking advantage of this.
Inclusivity
Mikey Shaffer, regional sales manager,
west, with Listen Technologies, says that
everybody wants to feel as though they
had a unique experience when they visit an
out-of-home environment. " Accessibility is
often overlooked when it comes to audio
and communication in these spaces, " she
laments. In the context of exhibits, displays
and other attractions, sound is often used
not only to convey information but also to
create ambiance and deliver an immersive
experience. " Assistive-listening systems
can make the space more inclusive, "
Shaffer suggests. " Audio description can
be offered, as well, using assistive-listening
systems for low-vision visitors. " She adds,
" Visitors are much more likely to have a
positive visit - and to want to return -
when they know a museum or gallery considered
their needs and sought to provide
a personalized and inclusive experience. "
commercialintegrator.com

http://www.commercialintegrator.com

Commercial Integrator April 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Integrator April 2023