A lecture I gave to Level 2 Design students at Brunel University on some of my recent work and experiences in adopting a human centred approach to public engagement, with guidance on how to structure their own virtual world exhibition projects

1. Making An
Exhibition Of
Yourselves
Fergus Bisset
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2. who am I?
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3. who am I?
- a design researcher
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4. who am I?
- a design researcher
designing an exhibition
at the design museum
realworlddesign
how ergonomics makes things better
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5. who am I? Scientist
- a design researcher
(Ergonomist)
in public engagement
Designer
User
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6. whoBrunel is:I?
Made in am
- Creative Director of
Made in international reputation:
Brunel last year
A brand with an
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7. why am I here?
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8. why am I here?
- to explain why public engagement is
important
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9. why am I here?
- to explain why public engagement is
important
- to give you an insight into successful
public engagement
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10. why am I here?
- to explain why public engagement is
important
- to give you an insight into successful
public engagement
- to give you the chance to ask questions
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11. what is public engagement?
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12. what is public engagement?
- relating to members of the public
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13. what is public engagement?
- relating to members of the public
- communicating your work to other
people
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14. what is public engagement?
- relating to members of the public
- communicating your work to other
people
- your current assignment...
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15. what are you required to
do?
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16. what are you required to
do?
- work in a team
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17. what are you required to
do?
- work in a team
- develop an engagement /
communication strategy
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18. what are you required to
do?
- work in a team
- develop an engagement or
communication strategy
- design and present ‘an exhibition’
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19. your engagement strategy:
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20. your engagement strategy:
- what is your subject matter?
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21. your engagement strategy:
- what is your subject matter?
- who is your audience?
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22. your engagement strategy:
- what is your subject matter?
- who is your audience?
- what is the message you want them to
take away with them when they leave?
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23. realworlddesign
how ergonomics makes things better
engagement strategy:
- what is your subject matter?
ergonomics
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24. realworlddesign
how ergonomics makes things better
engagement strategy:
- who are your audience?
visitors to the design museum
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25. 25

26. engagement strategy:
- what can you find out about your
audience?
interviews, market research
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27. engagement strategy:
- what do your audience already know
about your chosen subject?
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28. engagement strategy:
- what do your audience already know
about your chosen subject?
- what more do they want to know?
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29. 29

30. development of personas:
- create characters or personas of your
audience / visitors so that all the team
know who you are communicating to.
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31. realworlddesign
on Hierarchy
Definition how ergonomics makes things better
EC
ic Context
Ergonomics Professional /
Student
mic method
in this exhibit
ign Context
DC Creative Professional /
implemented
Student
metholology
tal Context
AC Member of the Public
ology and its
duct better?
Affordances)
PF Interactive and Evaluative
or evaluative
of the exhibit Aspects of the Exhibit
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Affordances)

32. - know the theme of your exhibition.
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33. - know the theme of your exhibition.
- know who your target audience are.
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34. - know the theme of your exhibition.
- know who your target audience are.
- know what experience your audience
already has of your theme.
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35. - know the theme of your exhibition.
- know who your target audience are.
- know what experience your audience
already has of your theme.
- know what more they want to find out.
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36. What your audience wants to know then
becomes your OUTCOME GOAL.
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37. What your audience wants to know then
becomes your OUTCOME GOAL.
Everything about your exhibition has to help
achieve this OUTCOME GOAL.
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38. realworlddesign
Made in Brunel is:
how ergonomics makes things better
“To demonstrate how ergonomics is making
things better all around us.”
A brand with an international reputation:
“To demonstrate the quality of graduates
from the School of Engineering and Design.”
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39. Now that you know your OUTCOME GOAL
you can begin to think about how you are
going to brand and design your exhibition.
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40. - Brainstorm visual ideas and gather
inspiration for how to represent your
chosen theme.
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41. - Brainstorm visual ideas and gather
inspiration for how to represent your
chosen theme.
- Develop brand / design guidelines to
ensure that the work of everyone in the
team is consistent.
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42. At this stage in the project:
- Everyone in the team needs to agree on
the OUTCOME GOAL of the exhibition.
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43. At this stage in the project:
- Everyone in the team needs to agree on
the OUTCOME GOAL of the exhibition.
- Who the intended visitors are.
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44. At this stage in the project:
- Everyone in the team needs to agree on
the OUTCOME GOAL of the exhibition.
- Who the intended visitors are.
- What the brand / design guidelines for
the exhibition will be.
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45. The final stage then is to actually start
designing the exhibition!
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46. The final stage then is to actually start
designing the exhibition!
This involves breaking the whole exhibition
down into individual THEMES and
EXHIBITS.
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47. realworlddesign
how ergonomics makes things better
Chairs Electronics Workplaces
In The Home Transport The Museum
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48. - This can involve another brainstorm
session with the whole team.
- Or more interviews or research with the
intended visitors to the exhibition.
- Or visiting existing exhibitions for
inspiration.
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49. Show how ergonomics
AIM: makes things better
BRAND /
realworlddesign
DESIGN
GUIDELINES:
THEMES:
EXHIBITS:
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50. You might assign each team member with
responsibility for one EXHIBIT each, or
you could work in smaller groups on each
THEME
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51. It is worth bearing in mind at this point
that visitors have different preferences.
Your exhibition should attempt to use:
- VISUAL
- AUDITORY
- INTERACTIVE / 3D COMPONENTS
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52. It is important as a team to write down all
the TASKS in a simple list or in a GANTT
Chart, indicating how long it is going to
take to complete each TASK or EXHIBIT
and who is responsible for each task.
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53. Task Name Duration Start Finish 2009 2010
A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F
Making Things Better project 392 days Mon 01/09/08 Mon 01/03/10
Phase 1: Pre-design 112 days Mon 01/09/08 Tue 03/02/09
Exhibition storyboard development 3 mons Mon 01/09/08 Mon 01/12/08
Title and imagery 4 mons Mon 01/09/08 Wed 31/12/08
Appoint graphic designers 1 day Mon 05/01/09 Mon 05/01/09
Exhibit concept development 2 mons Wed 03/12/08 Mon 02/02/09
Appoint exhibition designers 1 day Tue 03/02/09 Tue 03/02/09
Design brief sign-off 1 day Tue 03/02/09 Tue 03/02/09 03/02
Website development 4 mons Mon 01/09/08 Wed 31/12/08
Website launch 1 day Tue 04/11/08 Tue 04/11/08 04/11
Phase 2: Design development 69 days Wed 04/02/09 Mon 11/05/09
Exhibit prototype development 3 mons Wed 04/02/09 Wed 06/05/09
Research & agree loan items 3 mons Wed 04/02/09 Wed 06/05/09
Final exhibit list 1 day Thu 07/05/09 Thu 07/05/09
Exhibition design sign-off 1 day Fri 08/05/09 Fri 08/05/09 08/05
Construction contract appointed 1 day Mon 11/05/09 Mon 11/05/09
Exhibition texts / guide development 3 mons Wed 04/02/09 Wed 06/05/09
Phase 3: Production 72 days Tue 12/05/09 Wed 19/08/09
Final artwork 3 mons Tue 12/05/09 Tue 11/08/09
Construction of exhibition 3 mons Tue 12/05/09 Tue 11/08/09
Transportation & insurance 1 wk Wed 12/08/09 Tue 18/08/09
Risk assessment 1 wk Wed 12/08/09 Tue 18/08/09
Installation schedule produced 1 day Wed 19/08/09 Wed 19/08/09 19/08
Phase 4: Installation 53 days Thu 20/08/09 Mon 02/11/09
Exhibit transport & condition reports 1 wk Thu 20/08/09 Wed 26/08/09
On-site set construction 2 wks Thu 27/08/09 Wed 09/09/09
Object installation 1 mon Thu 10/09/09 Fri 09/10/09
Graphics installation 1 mon Thu 10/09/09 Fri 09/10/09
Lighting installation 1 mon Thu 10/09/09 Fri 09/10/09
Risk asessment actions 2 wks Mon 19/10/09 Fri 30/10/09
Cleaning, maintenance and invigilator briefing 1 day Mon 02/11/09 Mon 02/11/09
Event preparation 2 mons Thu 20/08/09 Tue 20/10/09
Phase 5: Launch 85 days Tue 03/11/09 Sun 28/02/10
Media / private receptions 1 day Tue 03/11/09 Tue 03/11/09
Task Milestone External Tasks
t: Making Things Better
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Fri 05/12/08 Progress Summary

54. In conclusion then:
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55. In conclusion then:
- Agree who the intended visitors are.
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56. In conclusion then:
- Agree who the intended visitors are.
- Define the OUTCOME of the exhibition.
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57. In conclusion then:
- Agree who the intended visitors are.
- Define the OUTCOME of the exhibition.
- Agree the brand / design guidelines.
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58. In conclusion then:
- Agree who the intended visitors are.
- Define the OUTCOME of the exhibition.
- Agree the brand / design guidelines.
- Plan and allocate individual responsibilities.
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59. In conclusion then:
- Agree who the intended visitors are.
- Define the OUTCOME of the exhibition.
- Agree the brand / design guidelines.
- Plan and allocate individual responsibilities.
- Accommodate as wide a range of users as
possible.
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60. Thank you!
Any questions?
fergus.bisset@brunel.ac.uk
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