Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History features new Wayfinding Kiosks

Interactive Knowledge was chosen by the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) to design and install a set of four interactive touchscreen kiosks located in the entrance to the Sant Ocean Hall. Visitors are using the kiosks to locate twenty-seven exhibitions and nine services available on the three floors of the museum. The information is delivered in six different languages.

Our designers and developers worked closely with the NMNH staff to create an application that uses the key principles of wayfinding, including:

• Assign a unique identity to each location — We are using some fantastic photography provided by the museum as well as distinctive icons and titles.
• Use landmarks to orient visitors and provide memorable locations — The base map displays permanent icons of the full-size elephant in the atrium and whale in the Ocean Hall for orientation. The path to each featured exhibition includes additional icons that represent exhibitions the visitor will pass on the way to their chosen destination.
• Create well-structured paths — Each exhibition features an animated path that takes the visitor from the wayfinding kiosk to the selected location. Options are available to go to locations that are not on the first floor (where the kiosks are located) via stairs or the elevator or escalator.

The museum’s Assistant Director for Exhibitions, Michael Lawrence, had this to say about his experience working with Interactive Knowledge, “I’m so glad we hired you guys. You gave us more than we ever expected.”