EXPERIENCE DESIGN RESEARCH
Embedding research into the creative and interpretive processes to support museums in designing human-centered exhibitions, immersive experiences, and more
Crafting transformative museum experiences by keeping people at the center of the work
We facilitate conversations with audiences to support you in developing inclusive, accessible, and relevant experiences, whether you’re creating an exhibition that’s pushing the interpretive envelope, devising new hands-on learning approaches, or imagining novel applications of media and technology.
We’re pushing the boundaries of the designer + evaluator relationship
We fiercely believe research is a powerful tool to shape the creative process and approach every experience design partnership as a give and take, with you driving the overall vision and us keeping the audience’s voice front and center.
CONCEPT TESTING
We facilitate conversations early in the experience design process to support you in shaping the initial direction, setting the tone, and understanding what will hook your audiences.
FORMATIVE RESEARCH & PROTOTYPING
From hands-on activities and digital prototyping to message testing and iterating copy, we collaborate with you to refine designs that are human-centered while staying true to your vision.
SUMMATIVE RESEARCH
We draw on a wide range of methodologies to measure the impact of experiences, like how much time people spend in galleries, how they engage with exhibits, and lasting impressions.
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Evaluation provided an essential tool to the transformation of the museum. Summative evaluation of existing exhibits and formative evaluation of new concepts, tested with diverse audiences, helped shape a visitor-focused approach to new exhibits, media, and the overall museum experience. The experience and expertise of Stephanie Downey, Cathy Sigmond and the Kera Collective team brought real value to the project.
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– Tom Owen, Vice President, PGAV Destinations
Experience Design Research and Prototyping for the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils
We led multiple rounds of formative research and prototyping to support the monumental reimagining of the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
Experience Design Research for Reinstallation of the American Art Permanent Collection
We conducted an exploratory evaluation to help the Smithsonian American Art Museum design a people-informed gallery space and interpretation of the permanent collection.
Experience Design Research for an Innovative Permanent Exhibition in a Major Urban History Museum
We used formative evaluation to support the Museum of the City of New York in developing a dynamic new permanent exhibition about the past, present, and future of New York City and measured its success against intended outcomes.
