Museums can be a treasure-trove of art and artifacts, and they’re often complex, multi-leveled structures with exhibits both indoors and outdoors. What a pity, then, for guests to wander around, without proper wayfinding guidance, and miss some of the best exhibits! For guests to get the most out of their visits, innovative museum wayfinding technology is a must. Our digital age offers marvelous opportunities for museums to bring ancient history into the 21^st century with cutting-edge wayfinding solutions.

Centralized Kiosks

For orientation and wayfinding, centralized kiosks could be placed at points like elevators or stair landings to serve visitors’ needs. If the museum is small, these kiosks could direct visitors to specific areas or exhibits of the museum. If the museum is larger, centralized kiosks could provide not only directions to exhibits but also information about those exhibits, such as pertinent facts or other educational points of interest. These kiosks would ideally be designed in such a way that they would fit with the style of the museum, but would also feature visual cues to make them recognizable by visitors as readily accessible sources of information.

Interactive Digital Signage

Museums can employ interactive digital signage for general wayfinding and communication needs, to inform visitors of exhibits the museum is featuring on any given day, and to impart specific information about the exhibits. Dynamic digital signage is particularly well-suited to museums, since content for the signage network can be updated as often as needed, whether for new exhibits and events or to give new information on regular exhibits.

Sometimes, museum visitors might require more nuanced wayfinding assistance. If the museum’s exhibits are grouped according to umbrella terms that aren’t recognizable by all visitors, then visitors might be at a loss as to where they want to go in the museum. Interactive digital signage can be used educationally to teach people what these terms mean and what kinds of exhibits are featured around them. For example, a natural science museum might use the term osteology to refer to exhibits that display the bones of once-living creatures, but since some visitors might not know what osteology means, interactive digital signage could shine light on the meaning of the term and create a handy concept map to accompany general wayfinding functions.

Integration With the Facility’s Architecture

Maximum efficiency of museum wayfinding solutions requires integration with the facility’s architecture. In the best case scenario, wayfinding solutions are built along with the museums themselves while they’re being constructed. In the case of most museums, however, wayfinding solutions have to be developed as museums modernize. This means that when kiosks and digital signage are utilized, the technology must be incorporated as naturally into the museum’s existing architecture and style as possible. Screens for digital signage can be placed unobtrusively on the museum’s walls, with attention to detail and design. Kiosks can be designed in such a way as to complement the style of the museum.

Whether in the form of centralized kiosks or interactive digital signage, the most innovative museum wayfinding technology includes interactive functionality, which allows visitors to specifically access the information they need in a timely, efficient way. Cutting-edge wayfinding solutions for museums streamline the operations of facilities, reducing duties of staff and increasing autonomy and enriching experience for visitors.