Visitor Panels: Incorporating Evaluation in Exhibition Planning

04/08/23 VSA 2008 Conference 1

Visitor Panels: Incorporating Formative Evaluation in

Exhibition Planning

Houston, Texas

July 17, 2008


Our Goal To share the perspectives of those who have

used visitor panels to plan exhibits at two very different institutions Julia Forbes, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA Frank Lopez, Old Woman Creek National Estuarine

Research Reserve, Huron, OH


High Museum of Art


Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve 573 acre Reserve Part of a national network that

promotes stewardship of estuaries

The only Research Reserve in the Great Lakes


Visitor Panel Process ID target audience and recruit panelists using telephone screening

interview ID key issues, develop prototypes to present to panelists Write Discussion Guide and Written Feedback (questionnaire) Conduct front-end visitor panel session, record and transcribe

discussion, tabulate Written Feedback Read and reflect on visitor panelists’ comments, suggestions Conduct debrief meeting, a working session in which team

members engage in collective decision-making to plan next steps in exhibition development

Reconvene visitor panel for formative evaluation


Louvre Atlanta A 3-year partnership between the High and the

Louvre Three year-long temporary exhibits Staff exchange Joint planning with staff members from the

High, the Louvre, Georgia Tech, Accenture 3 visitor panels and 3 debriefing meetings over

the course of 9 months to plan for year 3 exhibit, “The Louvre and the Masterpiece”

Visitor panelists: young, tech savvy individuals


High Visitor Panelists

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High Debrief Meeting










Three Visitor Panels At visitor panel 1 we presented a concept using

augmented reality By visitor panel 2 we had dismissed that idea and

moved in the direction of a game based on the idea of forgeries and an interactive wall

In visitor panel 3 we refined designs and concepts for game and interactive wall with input from visitor panelists


Interactive Wall Prototype

Visitor Panel 1


Visitor Panel 2 Interactive Wall Prototype


Visitor Panel 3 Interactive Wall Prototype


Final VersionFinal Version, Interactive Wall


Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve Renovation of existing Visitor Center Schematic Design by outside exhibit design firm Single visitor panel with debriefing meeting the

following day Internal team: staff from OWC and Dept. of

Natural Resources, board members, local informal educators, Exhibit Works staff

Visitor panelists: individuals from 30 to 60 with kids and grandkids


Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve Visitor Exhibit Hall in

DeWine Center (1,700+ square feet)

Last major renovation – 1985

Displays focusing on natural habitats, cultural history, water quality and the NERRS partnership in Ohio need updating


Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve


OWC Visitor Panel








OWC Debrief Meeting






Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve Panel validated

conceptual designs as “interesting,” adding useful elements for design development

Panel largely surprised that they hadn’t known about the Research Reserve “It’s a secret that’s too well

kept!”


Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve Panel served as our

“consultants” on many aspects of our visitor services

Feedback based on tour of entire facility – without interpretation

Results humbling for staff who gained appreciation of visitor perspective


Contacts Julia Forbes, Head of Museum Interpretation,

High Museum of Art [email protected]

Frank Lopez, Manager, Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve [email protected]

Daryl Fischer, Musynergy [email protected]