As digital signage technology has become more widely available, it has become an integral part of the experience of going to a museum.
Digital technology has vastly improved the ability of museums to expand our knowledge and explore new ideas.
Museums have utilised digital signage through apps, augmented reality, in-museum devices and motion-sensor technology to create a more interactive experience for visitors.
Why digital signage is so popular for museums
Digital signage technology allows museums to create immersive experiences that put you directly into the heart of an exhibition. Museums can tell stories in ways that have never been possible before because of digital signage technology.
The American Alliance of Museums estimates a total of 850 million visits annually, and the numbers are poised to rise as museums incorporate digital technology.
Risks of not using digital signage
The modern museum visitor is interested in more than simply seeing what a museum has to offer, they want to experience it too.
This means that museums need to cater to a millennial audience, and creating a traditional experience risks losing those visitors.
Great examples of digital signage in museums
Digital signage technology allows museums to create immersive experiences that put you directly at the heart of an exhibition.
So, we’ve collated some of our favourite uses of digital signage technology in museums below:
Woodhorn Museum
Lamasatech developed unique projection solutions for the Winding House No.2 exhibition at Woodhorn Museum in Ashington, Northumberland.
Using digital signage technology we were able to create engaging projections including video interviews ex-windermen, a storytelling timeline and engaging visual effects.
You can read more about our work with Woodhorn Museum in our case study.
Cleveland Museum of Art
A great example of digital signage technology is the ArtLens installation in Gallery One of Cleveland Museum of Art.
Using interactive video walls, augmented reality and gesture-sensing technology the museum has created an “experiential gallery” that encourages “engagement on a personal, emotional level”.
You can read more about ArtLens here
The Word
As with Woodhorn Museum, we used our innovative digital signage technology to create a series of exciting educational experiences for The Word in South Shields.
Using advanced audio-visual technology we were able to create a unique storytelling room, Storyworld, where they can get lost in the literary world surrounding them.
We also created a digital media wall with 6 state-of-the-art touch screens allowing children to colour in a picture on a tablet which they can then project on the media wall, showcasing the artistic skills of the children for all to admire.
You can read more about our work on The Word in our case study
Popular trends in digital signage for museums
Some of the most common types of digital signage technology you might see in museums include:
- Large video walls that help you get acquainted with the exhibits
- Interactive touch screens that encourage visitor interaction
- Video installations used as architectural elements to enrich the visitor experience
Recent years have seen further advances in digital signage technology. These include:
Welcome messaging
With the large number of visitors coming into the museum every day it’s easy for staff to get overwhelmed trying to greet them all. Welcome messaging makes this easier.
Visitors can get information regarding opening hours, admission prices and exhibition promotions at a glance from a screen in a museum’s entrance.
The screens can also display this information in different languages, appealing to the large tourist contingent of visitors.
Wayfinding assistance
Museums are often vast, so navigation is often an issue without a guide.
Digital signage can help with this! Museums can use digital signage across the route to an exhibit to guide visitors or offer a wayfinding app to help visitors find their way round.
If you’re looking to take the leap into digital signage technology for your museum Get in touch for a consultation
