Exhibit Design Relating to Low Vision and Blindness: What Visitors with Vision Loss Want Museums and Parks to Know about Effective Communication

Architectural models

The focus group members also visited the National Building Museum’s “Washington: Symbol and City” exhibition where they examined tactile architectural models of the memorials and monuments. Interview responses can be categorized as follows:

Size

The models are in scale with one another. The scale worked very well for everyone except for the Capitol Building, which is very large. Participants were disappointed they could not reach the top of the Capitol dome to feel the statue of Columbia.

Detail

Participants sensed detail that went beyond the structure of the buildings. They found features like letters in the names of the states and lion heads on the Lincoln Memorial. They were able to differentiate between friezes and wreath decorations and identify types of columns. Key features were obvious and well expressed to everyone. In some cases the shape of a building wasn’t exactly how someone had imagined it and they welcomed the discovery of the building’s actual shape. Participants wanted to experience all sides of the buildings. The models aren’t full rounds.

Depth

The models weren’t just the exteriors of buildings. The design allowed one to reach inside through the columns to some degree.

Height

The mounting height of the models worked well for the participants. The models were installed at 39 inches above finished floor to the base.

Labels

Everyone wished there had been labels, whether audio or Braille. As one participant said “I just feel lost looking at this. If only there had been a label on it, it would have been a better experience.” 

Relative positions of the buildings on the National Mall

Several people suggested ways to communicate how the monuments are positioned in relation to one another. A map or another tactile in conjunction with a model would help in understanding the location of the monuments. One person said she would like to experience a smaller scale tactile map with three-dimensional buildings plus the large scale, detailed architectural models in the exhibition.

Overall

As a whole, participants were very positive about the architectural models. One participant, however, preferred the earlier version of the exhibition as its design better facilitated independent access to visitors with vision loss.