A Museum that Talks with its Visitors
- Lead Developer
- ICA Boston,
- Bluecadet
- Interaction Design,
- Knowledge Management,
- Development,
- Experience Design,
- Kiosk Design,
- Information Architecture
Bluecadet and the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Boston took an innovative approach to enhance visitor engagement and accessibility to the museum’s art collections through interactive kiosks. The project sought to transform the museum experience by integrating technology into the gallery-education space, enabling rich dialogues between the museum, its artists, and its visitors.
The Client
The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston (ICA) is a premier cultural institution dedicated to showcasing contemporary art and fostering artistic innovation. Located on Boston’s waterfront, the ICA is renowned for its dynamic exhibitions, thought-provoking programming, and striking architecture, making it a vital part of the city’s cultural landscape.
Cutting-Edge Exhibitions
The ICA is known for its forward-thinking exhibitions that feature works by emerging and established contemporary artists. These exhibitions span various media, including painting, sculpture, photography, video, and performance art, offering visitors a diverse and engaging experience.
The Mediatheque Concept
The museum envisioned its Mediatheque as a blend of an exhibition gallery and an interactive multimedia resource, redefining traditional educational facilities within museums. The space aimed to facilitate visitor interaction with art and with each other in a contemplative setting.
Designing for Dialog
The solution involved deploying a series of kiosks, referred to by the ICA as a “conversation interface,” that used contemporary technology to complement the museum’s contemporary art collections. These kiosks enabled visitors to delve into discussions about the nature of art and share their interpretations through an image tagging system without disrupting the meditative atmosphere of the museum.
Community Engagement
The kiosks facilitated a community-generated library of terms and descriptors, creating a permanent record of the museum’s collections. Features like polling and themed discussion months encouraged visitors to express their thoughts and preferences regarding various aspects of the museum and its exhibitions.
Fostering Dialog
The “What Makes it Art?” section acted as a forum for visitors to debate and discuss their views on the artworks displayed. This feature, resembling a combination of a chat and a blog, promoted active dialogue within the museum space.
Integration of Digital Art and Archives
The Mediatheque also showcased net.art, browser-based artworks, and teen videos from the museum’s Digital Studio. Additionally, visitors could explore a curated archive of single-channel video works, further enriching their experience.
Equitable Access to the Collection and the Community
The interactive kiosks not only made the ICA Boston’s collections more accessible but also significantly enhanced visitor engagement. By facilitating discussions on art and allowing for personal expression and interpretation, the kiosks helped bridge the gap between the museum’s physical limitations and its educational ambitions.
