The Challenges
Museums face challenges in engaging Gen Z, a generation that prefers interactive, immersive, and socially connected experiences. Traditional static displays often fail to resonate with this demographic, creating a need to reimagine museum environments as dynamic spaces that connect the past, present, and future.
This project explores the question: How can museums enhance the learning experience and engagement of Gen Z visitors in meaningful ways?
The Solutions
Teammates
4 UI/UX Designers
1 Programming Engineer
To address this, the research investigates the integration of multi-sensory technologies, such as augmented reality, projection mapping, and tactile installations, into museum exhibits. By combining interactive storytelling with hands-on exploration, the project aims to transform static displays into participatory environments.
This approach not only enriches the educational value of museum experiences but also fosters deeper emotional connections with cultural narratives, aligning museum offerings with the preferences of a digital-first generation.
My Role
Sponsored Client
Timeline
6 weeks
Product Designer
UI & UX Research
Ideation & Conceptualization
Flow Mapping & Architectural Design
Spatial Experience Design
XR Prototype & Videography
Overview
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Outcome
Research for Insights
Approaching to Problem Space
Museums struggle to engage young generation visitors due to static displays and lack of interactive experiences
Recent visitors demand immersive, socially connected environments that align with their digital-first lifestyle
Current exhibitions at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, rich in cultural narrative, provides a unique opportunity for redesign
Why We Focus On Egypt Section ?
For this project, we chose Egypt as the focus of our experience for a couple of reasons.
First, Ancient Egypt offers a rich cultural narrative, filled with rituals and artifacts that have great potential for storytelling.
Second, with the exhibit set to reopen in 2026, there’s a unique opportunity to reimagine the experience with new design and technology to attract new audiences.
Lastly, visitors expressed a strong sense of nostalgia and curiosity about this exhibit during our research, making Egypt the foundation for an engaging museum experience.
What We Found ?
During our exploration of the Egypt section, we were intrigued by three key observations that shaped our approach,
the way artifacts connect visitors to ancient traditions, the research lab’s behind-the-scenes look at preservation, and the hands-on interactive stations that encourage personal reflection. These elements inspired us to rethink how we can deepen engagement and create a more immersive, meaningful experience for visitors.
What We Heard ?
For the user research, we visited the museum to conduct the user research with both visitors and staff members.
Through on-site interviews, we gained valuable insights into their perspectives and identified some key pain points to better understand their perspectives.
From our user research, it revealed three important insights.
First, visitors value self-guided exploration, which allows them to engage with exhibits at their own pace and focus on what interests them most.
Second, there is a desire to change the perception of mummies, shifting from seeing them as pop culture symbols, to respecting them as human beings.
Lastly, staff emphasized the need for edu-tainment features, which maintains thoughtful engagement and educational value.
Process for Solutions
Discovery
Based on our research, we discovered three key findings,
1. Visitors prefer self-exploration and hands-on interaction with exhibits.
2. Museum curators aim to balance education with entertainment.
3. Existing visitors express curiosity and anticipation for new exhibits.
Direction
Accordingly, our mainly focused direction for the solution is,
Ideation & Iteration
1. Conceptualize user experience phase
2. Build up stroyboard to define key moments and opportunities
3. Sketch out floor map & user journey map
4. Analyze technology system diagram
Solutions
UX Journey Map
Key Features
01.Pre-visit
1. AR Invitation: A mobile app feature engaging users before their visit, allowing them to preview the journey and connect them to CMNH app.
2. Interactive Map: A real-time navigation tool guiding visitors through the museum.
How it works
Building curiosity through an Augmented Reality Invitation
Connecting users to the CMNH App for a complete journey
Browse through exhibitions, see journey and ticket purchase
Interactive Map provides in-real time guide to different places in museums
Visitors collect memoirs of their journey as they progress to different stations
Expand to different parts of the museum, fostering desire for revisit
02.Visit
1. Immersive Passage Hallway:
Features interactive wall graphics combining tactile interaction and animation.
Visitors explore cultural stories and symbolism through hands-on experience and social interaction.
2. Conservation Lab:
Visitors explore AR-based conservation experience by simulating artifact preservation processes.
Includes gesture-driven interactions like zooming, holding, swiping into artifacts or virtually restoring items.
How it works
The Passage
Providing cultural story-telling with crucial symbolisms embedded in ancient artifacts
Bringing graphics to life through tactile interaction and engaging animations
AR Conservation Lab
Learning how museums conserve ancient artifacts and objects
Connecting the visitors by giving a glimpse of the behind the scenes
Creating edu-tainment feature including both learning and entertaining experience
Building shared experiences that foster social interaction and memorable interactions
Involving visitors actively into the efforts of the lab with their own gesture movement
Resolving time limitation to meet researchers, Enhancing interaction with artifacts
03.Post-visit
1. Hieroglyph Souvenirs: Visitors create personalized messages translated into hieroglyphs, printed as take-home artifacts.
2. Journey Recap: A digital summary of their visit, fostering reflection and connection.
How it works
Hieroglyphs Souvenir
Writing a letter in their language, which is translated into hieroglyphs
Printing the letter as a personalized souvenir
Journey Recap
Collecting symbols of each section during their journey
Checking and reviewing their journey iteration
Connecting with the Egyptian concept of the afterlife through personal reflection
Creating a meaningful souvenir to remember their experience
Receiving pop-up notification as they finish the journey
Checking collection of symbols through the app