Establishing a new way to create interactive experiences
We spearheaded an internal project to create a comprehensive strategy and process for creating in-gallery digital interactives at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I conducted an extensive audit of our existing and past experiences and with our Head of Interpretation, instituted a new process for creating interactives at the institution.
The museum now has a toolkit including a standard operating procedure, concept submission form, database to monitor existing and proposed interactives, standardized set of hardware and software, accessibility standards, KPIs, launch checklist and post-launch maintenance plan.
Make it collaborative.
Processes can’t function in a vacuum.
Our new process broke apart old institutional siloes and brought teams together to discuss topics never considered before. Even with diminished staff and budgeting resources in the wake of 2020, we were able to connect 10+ departments to discuss everything from accessibility to standardized hardware and created a RACI matrix to manage responsibilities across the organization.
Make it inclusive.
It’s not just about meeting WCAG accessibility standards.
Since interactives can be experienced both online and on-site at the museum, we brought together the first group to discuss accessibility and inclusive content creation for digital interactives.
With Interpretation, we created the museum’s first digital strategy for in-gallery interactives that ensure that we brought in outside voices and highlighted undertold stories for artists and cultures that have been historically under- or misrepresented at the museum.
Make it work.
You don’t always have to blow everything up to establish a new process.
To ensure that our new process would work for the museum, we aligned with existing timelines and processes where possible, brought in staff from all areas of the museum for feedback and guidance, and shared progress on our new process along the way.
We then began discussions with consultants of varied backgrounds to create a strategic roadmap to guide the creation of interactives going forward, with a focus on the permanent collection galleries since much attention is already given to special and temporary exhibitions.