Researching presentation techniques is important as I need to understand the difference between a good display that will keep the attention of passers-by and a bad display that will be missed entirely. To do this, I am required to understand a variety of various factors. The main one is how to make a display interactive for passers-by. Not only does this add an element of entertainment and excitement, but it also allows for my display to be of interest to all age groups, as it allows for the viewers to be curious about the display itself. This can be done in a variety of ways, including things such as having an interactive activity, for example, if I were to be doing a product about football, I would potentially have a miniature penalty shootout setup where viewers could have a good whilst waiting to view my product themselves or afterward to immerse themselves within the feel of my product. Having physical activities, that viewers can take part in, can help to make them more engaged with the product, having an impact on how engaged they are whilst watching/ reading what it is I have created.

Another way to keep viewers engaged is by providing a backstory as to what led you to create the product, or information to read about the topic itself before actually viewing what it is you have made. Having information for a viewer to read, helps to keep them engaged when they finally view your final product, as they have now been provided with context to the product before them, and this helps to form a deeper-rooted connection between them and the creator as factors such as the emotional meaning and connection to the product, are now understood, and allows for the viewer to see the product through your eyes.

Experience Barnsley

To aid my own research, I visited Experience Barnsley, a museum focused on the various events and history of Barnsley. The museum features a range of exhibitions covering different topics, as well as interactive rooms designed for younger visitors. The entire complex includes a variety of exhibition methods and styles, from audio and visual aids to pure information and text.

Example

Information Based

This style of display uses the information style of presenting. This provides the visitor in this case, to understand the topic and the consequences/ effects it may have had. In this case, the display discussed the secondary factors of industry changes and the sectors that made Barnsley what it is. The boards themselves, inform visitors about the essential events of history that have led the town to what it is, such as the Miners’ Strike and the issues that led up to it. I feel like this style of display, is effective for those who enjoy reading and discovering new facts. However, for the younger audience, this idea may not be the best as they may lose attention faster or not know a lot about the topic to begin with.

Visual

Another effective presentation method that caught my eye was the use of image-heavy displays, which seemed more appealing than straightforward text. The text can sometimes feel slightly overwhelming, making it harder to digest the information as initially planned. This style of relaying information is especially effective for younger audiences, as the large, colourful images become focal points for them. Since the pictures represent recognisable objects, they can understand what is being displayed without becoming confused by the larger text typically found in traditional information boards.