Just like a real exhibition, a digital exhibit requires organisation. Here are some tips for creating a relevant and attractive temporary online exhibition.
Plan.
- An exhibition project takes time to mature, and so does a digital project. Don’t hesitate to start thinking about it 2 or 3 months before creating the website, especially if you want to edit multimedia content!
- Define your objective. Try to innovate rather than copy a real-life offer. For example, you can make your subject more “pop” by using Internet references, such as famous memes.
- Identify your target audience(s).
- Decide whether you’re going to go it alone or call in the professionals. Maybe both!
- Don’t forget the UX (user experience).
- Choose the right content management system. Ideally, you’ll need to publish rich media, offer a personalised experience and create interaction. It can be a fairly simple system, too, like WordPress!
Create and promote content.
- Choose a variety of media to distribute your content: videos, texts, images… and make them interactive! This will increase concentration. You can create quizzes, images or unlockable fun facts, for example.
- The average attention span is around 7-10 minutes, so divide your content into short sequences.
- Here’s an interesting example from the University of Padua: each part of the exhibition is introduced by an image. You can choose whether or not to click on the image. Each image has a different purpose: you can learn a lot, or simply admire some stunning images.
- Follow the accessibility guidelines for web content. Make sure the interface font and symbols are easy to recognise. Consider displaying an on-screen menu column or map. You can create an interactive guide for unfamiliar visitors. Consider different screen sizes (computer or smartphone).
- Integrate your content. And above all, test it with multiple users.
- Promote the event on social media. You can start your communication campaign several weeks in advance. Consider attracting your followers’ attention to make them want to know more.
Make it stay alive!
- You can plan to integrate new content once a week or twice a month.
- A real exhibition is often accompanied by various programs, such as conferences. Why not imagine a webinar or podcast related to your theme?
- Even if you plan to end your exhibition, it can remain online as a testimony to your work and a calling card for your institution. Just make sure it remains “Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust” over the years!