UX | UI Designer
The MET:
Wayfinder
This research project studies the behaviors and experiences of visitors at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with the aim of crafting an innovative solution that values navigation and education. The goal is to enhance the visitor's experience by offering a more immersive encounter while simultaneously providing valuable contextual information about the artwork on display.
Origin Story
Navigating the MET poses a significant challenge for visitors, primarily stemming from a lack of clear guidance and outdated navigation tools. The museum's exhibits often prove perplexing to navigate, exacerbated by the frequent changes in collections and gallery layouts.
Furthermore, the inconspicuously small placards containing background information often go unnoticed, compounding the issues. These collective challenges detrimentally affect the overall visitor experience, diverting attention away from the artifacts and towards mere photography, thereby diminishing the museum's intended impact.
Project Overview
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To develop an innovative application designed to revolutionize the museum experience. This app will possess the capability to scan artifacts within museum's exhibits, which will facilitate an immersive virtual storytelling experience that transports users back in time. Its unique ability to engage users within a physical environment will seamlessly blend the past with the present, offering a captivating fusion of history and technology.
Goals
This application will serve as an educational tool, providing in-depth background information about art pieces and artifacts in the Ancient Egyptian exhibit through an immersive and informative experience.
Ultimately, the mission is to offer museum-goers a fresh and engaging perspective, encouraging deeper interaction with the museum's collection and fostering a newfound appreciation for the treasures of our past.
Opportunity
Currently, the MET lacks a virtual map and immersive storytelling experience for its visitors. This project aims not only to overhaul the method of delivering information about the museum's artifacts but also to introduce an immersive experience that enables guests to fully immerse themselves in the historical context and background stories of each piece through the artifacts themselves.
Research Demographics
Primarily catering to the dynamic demographic of individuals visiting the MET, the target audience includes students, tourists, regular museums visitors and museum staff.
Mary, Brooklyn, NY
“I actually quite like the map. Everything is digital now. It’s a bit antiquated, but it feels like an important part of coming to the museum.”
Gina, California
"...the digital map the QR code provided didn’t give any more explanation to wayfinding than the physical map."
Research Methods
The key research approaches include:
Field Study
Used to measure the different behaviors and approaches of people in the museum.
Interviews
Used to gather information on visitors thought process and overall mindset while navigating around the MET.
Surveys
Used to quickly gather information on challenges, personal experiences and changes people would like to be introduced.
Key Issues
Direction
Interactive Features
Accessibility
Direction
Efficient and user-friendly navigation is currently lacking within the museum, resulting in a challenging and bewildering experience for visitors as they attempt to explore its numerous galleries, exhibitions, and collections.
This challenge was brought to light through interviews with visitors who relied on the outdated amenities such as paper maps and small placards. Guests were more likely to use their smartphones, to learn about the artifacts rather than the present visuals.
Interactive Features
Many visitors have expressed a desire for more interactive experiences at the MET to make their overall experience more interesting.
Without interactive features, visitors felt less engaged and less motivated to fully explore the exhibits. This is especially true for those who may not have a strong interest in the subject matter or who may be visiting for the first time.
Accessibility
The museum doesn’t always have adequate equipment or facilities to provide access for disabled visitors, making it difficult for them to fully enjoy the museum's collections and exhibitions. Visitors with disabilities may face several challenges while trying to navigate through the museum, such as steep staircases, dimly lit galleries, or lack of seating.
Student Persona
Luis, 22
Demographics​
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Student in college
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From New York
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Goal:
Luis is visiting the MET for the first time to do research on Medieval knights for a school project. As he is viewing the exhibit, he looks for background context on the artifacts but is instead greeted by small placards with paragraphs of tiny font that is hard to read. In addition, he finds it hard to connect with the artifacts and fully understand its meaning.
Product Concept
The MET: Wayfinder app provides users with a one-of-a-kind scavenger hunt adventure that transports them back in time with a simple scan of an exhibit artifact. When visitors scan items like Lady Nephthys' necklace in the Ancient Egypt exhibit, they embark on a virtual storytelling journey. This immersive experience includes animated visuals that delve into the historical context of the necklace, its origins, and its significance. As they progress, visitors receive clues and guidance to locate the next artifact in the exhibit. This engaging encounter not only deepens users' understanding of the objects they encounter but also enhances their overall engagement with the exhibit.
My Product
A dedicated app for The MET that prioritizes education, guidance, and a heightened level of immersion for its visitors.
Screens from App
Artifact Scan Screen
Artifact Background Screen
Animation Screen
Artifact Being Scanned Screen
App Prototype
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Future Outlook
Although the prototype is not yet fully developed, The MET: Wayfinder has the potential to be an extremely valuable tool for museum-goers. It promises to provide visitors with a distinctive and immersive storytelling experience, enabling them to forge connections with the artifacts and the cultures represented within the museum exhibits.