Workshop Abstract by Sally Duensing: Who reads exhibit labels? How do labels affect the exhibit experience? Join this two-day course to learn about a variety of approaches like visitor generated labels, using new technology to present content and multiple language accessibility.

1. Labels Workshop
Ecsite Conference 2011
Copernicus Science Centre, Warsaw
May 24th Orange Room

2. What you loved & hated
Some key ideas from this morning

3. What you hate
• Illegible (x8)
• Too long, complicated (x8)
• Technical vocabulary, equations, words in
foreign languages (x4)
• Assumption that visitors don’t read labels (x1)

4. What you love
• Short, brevity (x8)
• Conceptual organization – chunking
• Simple, precise (x8)
• Readability (for ex. number of syllables or lexical words
per clause)
• Graphics (x5)
• Graphic style, visual communication
• Humor (x2)
• Interaction: role, style & stance

5. Text Panel Strategies
• Elicits conversations between visitors (x1)
• Layering information (x1)
• Pointers & Signals – headings & topic sentences
• Practical information that relates to you (x1)
• Representation (content-wise)
• No label (x2)
* Photos from Newarke Houses Museum, Leicester UK

10. Alternative Labels
• The Ekharv Model
• Infographics
• Digital Labels
• No Labels

11. Ekharv
Model

12. Info-
graphics

13. Exhibitions
without
labels

14. Group Activity
• Identify an evaluative criteria
• Who is the label for? What function does it serve?
• Write new text panel – use appropriate
techniques according to evaluative criteria
• Techniques include infographics, asking questions etc.
• Identify appropriate evaluative methods
• Observation
• Exit Interviews etc.