
Interactive Exhibits
A Practical Guide to Developing and Operating Interactive Exhibits for Museum and Heritage Professionals
Ben Gammon(Author)
Facet Publishing
Will be published approx. on 19. November 2026
Book
Hardback
978-1-78330-749-4 (ISBN)
Description
Every year, museums and heritage sites around the world invest millions in developing and maintaining interactive exhibits. These exhibits are delightful, a source of wonder, inspiration and learning, providing joyous, memorable, shared experiences for adults and children alike. Or at least they can be. Sadly, many end up frustratingly difficult to operate, boring or perennially broken. Poor design, ill-conceived content and badly planned maintenance can lead to wasted resources and missed opportunities for enjoyment and learning.
Interactive Exhibits addresses this gap by bringing together the author's three decades of experience and insight from across the museum and heritage sector. Providing an overview of the full exhibit life cycle - from initial concept and prototyping to installation and operation, and drawing on lessons from both successes and failures, this practical guide demystifies the process of creating interactive exhibits that truly work. Chapters include:
what are interactive exhibits and why do you need them?
what do good interactive exhibits look like?
generating ideas for interactive exhibits
working with exhibit developers
looking after interactive exhibits
the future of interactive exhibits.
A comprehensive and subject-defining text, this book is essential reading for museum and heritage professionals, exhibition designers and project managers as well as students studying to enter the museum and heritage sector.
Interactive Exhibits addresses this gap by bringing together the author's three decades of experience and insight from across the museum and heritage sector. Providing an overview of the full exhibit life cycle - from initial concept and prototyping to installation and operation, and drawing on lessons from both successes and failures, this practical guide demystifies the process of creating interactive exhibits that truly work. Chapters include:
what are interactive exhibits and why do you need them?
what do good interactive exhibits look like?
generating ideas for interactive exhibits
working with exhibit developers
looking after interactive exhibits
the future of interactive exhibits.
A comprehensive and subject-defining text, this book is essential reading for museum and heritage professionals, exhibition designers and project managers as well as students studying to enter the museum and heritage sector.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Laminated cover
Dimensions
Height: 238 mm
Width: 16 mm
Weight
358 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78330-749-4 (9781783307494)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Ben Gammon is an independent consultant with 35 years' experience in the museum and heritage sector. He was previously Head of Audience Research, and then Director of Learning and Audience Development at the Science Museum, London. As a consultant he has worked on many exhibition projects, including ones at Life Science Centre, Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery and the Bath Abbey Visitor Centre.
Content
Introduction
Chapter 1: The What and Why of Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 2: Interactive Exhibits That Are Easy to Operate
Chapter 3: Interactive Exhibits That Are Appealing and Impactful
Chapter 4: Developing Ideas Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 5: Commissioning Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 6: Making Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 7: Installing Interactive Exhibits on the Museum Floor
Chapter 8: Looking After Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 9: The Future of Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 10: Conclusion
Chapter 1: The What and Why of Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 2: Interactive Exhibits That Are Easy to Operate
Chapter 3: Interactive Exhibits That Are Appealing and Impactful
Chapter 4: Developing Ideas Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 5: Commissioning Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 6: Making Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 7: Installing Interactive Exhibits on the Museum Floor
Chapter 8: Looking After Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 9: The Future of Interactive Exhibits
Chapter 10: Conclusion