Undoubtedly, the pandemic had a personal impact on each of us, and a tremendous impact on the museum and cultural heritage community. Unfortunately, many museums had to close their doors to visitors (some temporarily and some permanently). The need to go digital and to connect with audiences online became more critical than ever before. It’s the only way to stay connected to advance your educational missions, and there’s an ever-growing pressure to get content online and engage with potential visitors.

The museum landscape was certainly changing before the pandemic due to the rise of online and digital technology. As the primary platform for communication, many museums were already increasing their virtual presence before the pandemic struck. In the last ten years, the world has changed dramatically with the rise of smartphones and widely available internet connections. Today’s museum audiences have grown up with, or at least adapted to, smartphone technology, social media, even our digital happy hours via Zoom. Old physical exhibits on museum walls or lines of static text on a webpage no longer are enough.

Online visitors to a museum website expect digital and interactive experiences that will capture their attention. Museums are competing against a world full of constant notifications and flashy digital content. So, if you can’t beat them, why not join them?

We know digital exhibits are essential tools for audience engagement. We also know that it’s always good to start any new project, a digital exhibit or otherwise, with a bit of strategic planning.

Let’s consider some sound strategies for your digital exhibit project. In this guide, we will be sharing tips for planning your digital exhibit content development and your technology selection.