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The central theme in the MuseumFutureslab is the design of intrinsically engaging museum experiences around art, cultural heritage or societal issues, such as inclusivity, sustainability or the impact of new technologies on society.

Inspiration for these experiences is found in connecting museums to the outside world, as well as in using novel technologies and in getting a deep understanding about the targeted visitors.

In recent years museum experiences have evolved from stand-alone experiences within the confined space of a physical museum to experiences that are embedded in journeys that start before and last until after the museum experience; experiences that are embedded in community engagement activities, or in people’s daily lives; experiences that may follow a trajectory through institutional ecosystems (including schools, care centres, etc.).

The lab explores how museum experience design can lead to meaningful and intrinsically engaging museum experiences.

We explore the role that current technology-related developments, including for example mobile technology and augmented reality can play in facilitating and stimulating this development.

Collaborative research through individual projects

MuseumFutures is associated to other Faculty labs (such as the Connected Everyday Lab) and external parties.

In MuseumFutures, several Master graduate students of the Faculty collaborate in design research projects. Each student works on his or her own project, but all projects feed into a growing body of knowledge about opportunities for future museum experience design as it relates to connecting museums to the outside world and applying novel technologies in doing so.

Each student collaborates with a museum, heritage institute, design agency or other stakeholder. Students have their home base at the Faculty where they synergistically work with their fellow students in the lab; sharing their experiences, inspiring each other, sharing knowledge and building a growing body of knowledge and tools on the topic.

Workshop with students, museum professionals and designers

New ways of collaborating

The way of working within MuseumFutures is relatively new. Thus, for us, one of the exciting challenges is to explore truly new ways of doing design research with Faculty internal and external collaborators from the creative industry and the museum and cultural heritage field, in ways that are beneficial and exciting to all parties.

Lab Director
Arnold Vermeeren

MuseumFutures lab explores how connecting museums to the outside world can have an impact on museum experience design as well as on a museum’s role in society.