Imagine entering a museum expecting glass cases lined up along the walls and placards bearing descriptions printed on paper, only to be urged by giant digital walls responding to your very movement, soundscapes enveloping you in different periods of history, and interacting elements that make you become part of the story and not a mere observer. This is precisely the magic behind a few truly great digital exhibits, and with a rise in such experiences, America is undergoing cultural transformation.

But what is it that makes an exhibit truly memorable, the opposite of just being one that visitors forget as soon as they exit? After visiting so many museums and conversing with various exhibit designers, I have learned that the truly unforgettable digital experiences all possess a few key ingredients, which go far beyond glitzy technology.

The Power of Personal Connection

Great digital exhibits understand that technology has to serve the story and not outshine it. The digital storytellings at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture allow visitors not only to learn facts but also to emotionally connect with the lived experiences of persons. Technology becomes invisible, the integration so seamless with the storyline.

Great digital exhibits also understand the fact that every visitor comes to the exhibit with his/her mindset and interests in mind. By including interactive components, visitors are allowed the freedom to piece through the content and thus give them ownership of the experience. Whether someone wishes to get into the details or simply get a brief overview, personalized digital journeys allow each visit to resonate in its own way.

Multisensory Immersion That Feels Natural

Digital exhibits best remembered bombard two to three senses but never overwhelm the unstressed visitor. Walking down a reconstructed replica of an ancient bazaar scene with sounds and voices of merchants being heard, touching the touchscreen to feel the texture of different fabrics, and a 360-degree projection wrapping the visitor back in time; if done correctly, such a multi-sensory experience forms memories that will forever be etched in the visitor’s mind.

However, in practice, it has to be subtle and purposeful. Every digital element must have a good reason for being there. All the other random bells and whistles that never contribute anything to the story actually detract from the entire experience, leaving the visitor in bafflement or downright exhaustion rather than helping them experience awe.

Engaging Interactive Elements

The difference between passive observation and participation engages or kills the essence of a digital exhibit. Visitors recall the experiences when they felt actively involved rather than being passive consumers, whether it be as simple as:

What pairs these interactive elements well, however, is their encouragement of interaction beyond the immediate space. Some of the most successful digital exhibits produce shared experiences in which families and friends work together, compete, or merely laugh about the discovery process. These moments spent in the culture ultimately form the stories that are the shared experience back home.

Seamless Technology Integration

Glitchy technology and complicated interfaces are the last thing you want ruining your cultural experience. Behind every great digital exhibit stands an intuitive design that dares to meet the challenge of being effortless for every visitor to navigate, irrespective of whether they grew up hitting buttons on mobile phones or had only known their existence from commercials over the last couple of years. Here venues could provide:

And beyond that, the greatest digital exhibits include specific considerations of accessibility from their early conceptual stages: those of visitors with an array of physical capabilities, language preferences, and levels of tech familiarity. Of course, when the framework behind every fun experience supports full participation, that creates opportunities for everyone to have the best memories that any visit can aspire to.

Narrative Transcending the Medium

Behind every unforgettable digital exhibit is the art of brilliant storytelling. Technology might be the bait that draws people in, but it is the narrative that fills them in and leaves them with an impression that stays long after the technology disappears around them. Be it an interactive hall of fame for celebrating local heroes or a scientific discovery-based immersive ride, the best exhibits utilize digital means to tell stories that relate to real-life human experiences and emotions.

The best digital exhibit storytellers understand pacing and are able to identify when it’s appropriate to provide welcoming periods of silent reflection with bouts of active interaction. In essence, they map out the emotional trajectory that envelops people in a convoluted experience, culminating in some kind of resonant manifestation of wonder or recognition.

Making an Impact Beyond a Visit

Memory-makers resist being put into boxes and will evolve through engagement and alliances. This kind of relationship could be forged with:

The most successful exhibit providers use their digital exhibits as a stepping stone for more intense community partnerships, which include workshops, lectures, and web resources that enhance the experience created with the digital exhibits.

The Human Touch in a Digital World

In fact, what really matters is that cherished digital exhibits never relinquish their capability of giving that human touch. Behind each of the great digital experiences are experts, a few of whom will be able to provide much context on the exhibits, answer questions, or help visitors sort through both the technology and some of the content, offering an ingenious combination of emerging digital technologies alongside authentic human knowledge to form an extraordinary experience.

The institutions that will rise above as digital exhibits continue to grow and enhance will be those that prioritize meaningful connections, accessible design, and compelling storytelling, continuing to create experiences appreciated and cherished by visitors for years to come.

What digital exhibit has left the biggest impression on you? Share your most memorable museum technology experience and celebrate how institutions are finally bringing their stories into being in the digital era.