HomePart 1 of Inclusive Exhibition Design Toolkit

Our design vision

Image showing object labels on a display case surface. The labels include text, Braille and tactile panels which allow visitors to touch a representation of the object on display.
Being Human object labels, Thomas S.G. Farnetti. Source: Wellcome Collection. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

This is Wellcome Collection’s toolkit to help project teams make exhibitions that are inclusive and accessible. We have developed these guidelines in consultation with D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people with diverse lives, perspectives and experiences.

We see inclusion as an opportunity for creativity and innovation, an opportunity to commission bold and beautiful design that creates a positive experience for all our visitors. We want to work with designers who take the same view.

This toolkit has been developed in the context of our Strategic Direction for Access, Diversity and Inclusion. It has been informed by consulting on prototype designs, evaluating completed exhibitions and learning through feedback.

Strategic Direction for Access, Diversity and Inclusion

We’ll keep developing it as we learn more, and we offer it for use by anyone who might find it helpful. If you have any comments for how it might be improved, please contact us:

Inclusive Design Team
inclusivedesign@wellcome.ac.uk

What we mean by ‘inclusive design’

  • Creates a welcoming and positive experience for all
  • Is consistent, but not uniform
  • Enables independence
  • Is intuitive to use
  • Offers choice and flexibility
  • Is informed by consultation, lived experience and empathy rather than assumptions about preferences and needs
  • Is underpinned by the social model of disability

Our design process

Responsibility for access and inclusion is shared by all.

We want everyone in our exhibition project teams to be motivated to advocate for inclusive design throughout the design and development process.

Consultation

When considering a design solution or content proposal that is new to us, we will prototype and consult with D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people.

Consultation can benefit every stage of exhibition design, and we encourage project teams to build it into their process, especially when developing new or innovative design solutions.

Our exhibitions are aimed at a 14+ audience. We have developed our design guidelines with this audience in mind.

Measuring success

At stages of design that require sign-off, we always assess accessibility and inclusivity (as specified in these guidelines), alongside curatorial vision, object care, and health and safety.

When an exhibition is open, we regularly consult D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people to ensure that designs are well realised and that the complete experience is inclusive.

Throughout an exhibition’s run we also analyse visitor comments (seen on social media, directly offered or solicited by our staff). This feedback is wrapped into the project’s evaluation and fed back into these guidelines and our project development process.

More from Inclusive Exhibition Design Toolkit

Part2

Threshold and signage

Create thresholds and signage to help our visitors feel welcomed and confident.

Part3

Circulation and rest

Everything you need to consider to create well-paced exhibitions with easy visitor flow.

Part4

Object display

Detailed points to contemplate when designing beautiful, accessible displays.

Part5

Audiovisual work

Positioning, measurements and guidelines for the project team to consider.

Part6

Lighting

All about designing lighting that will help visitors navigate an exhibition with confidence.

Part7

Exhibition texts

The elements to consider when producing exhibition texts, including labels and panels.

Part8

Gallery guides and large-print guides

Making key elements in gallery guides consistent in style.

Part9

Accessible and multisensory interpretation

About providing layered interpretation of exhibitions in a range of formats.

Part10

Thanks

Thank you to our contributors, consultants and critical friends who have been essential in informing and shaping this research.