Museums Inspiration Day, Chur
?? On Wednesday, I had the privilege of participating in the Museums Inspiration Day organized by Jacqueline Falk from Zürioberland and hosted by Laetizia Christoffel, Head of Museen Graubünden.
I felt like a proud parent as I shared the stage at the R?tisches Museum with two brilliant former students from the HSLU Design Master’s program, Tim and Rahel, and their innovative AI-powered product, Past Phone. Their company, Timbotoni, created Past Phone to help museums and galleries offer visitors, especially children and families, the chance to have real-time interactive conversations with characters from the past—be it a medieval knight or a child working in a textile factory. ???
In the afternoon, Andrea Easey joined us from London to discuss the collaborative work we did for the reinterpretation of the National Portrait Gallery. This project has led to a dramatic increase in both visitor numbers and an even greater rise in first-time visitors, families, and young people. ?????
Both the Past Phone project and the NPG interpretation work highlight the power of a rigorous research process, followed by early user testing to ensure engagement from our target groups before fully developing the projects. These examples underscore the impact of innovative thinking and user-centered design in making cultural experiences more accessible and engaging for all.
A huge thank you to everyone involved for an inspiring day of sharing and learning! ??
Thank you so much for your kind words James! Your support and guidance as a teacher has meant so much to us. It's an honour to share the PastPhone, a project that reflects what we've learned from you. ???