User-Friendly: Hands-On Exhibits That Work

Designing hands-on exhibits is a complex process that, at best, draws on the insight and skills of many people. There are subject area experts to consult, educators and evaluators, writers and editors, graphic and industrial designers, carpenters and technicians of all kinds, and sometimes computer programmers and filmmakers as well. In the end, the measure of success is how well the exhibit works for the wide variety of people who visit the museum. It is easy and enjoyable to use? Is it clear what it's all about? Do people go away with a feeling that they understand something more than they did before they encountered the exhibit?