The major conclusion from the research into the scope of developing a museum experience for neurodiverse children is understanding their point of freedom to feel comfortable in their surroundings, assisting them with their sensorial issues, and generating curiosity about the visit without setbacks. As the days passed, our agenda for what came next became clear, and we could see ourselves deep-diving inside the connection of creating a visitor-oriented museum experience while keeping the focus group as children with ASD. We had in-person meetings every to create a collaborative workset.
Storyboards by Svaney
Brainstorming
The first idea is about the environmental sensitivity in children with autism called Smart Filter since there are many factors in the museum that might trigger visitors' emotions, such as strong lights, loud sounds or crowded space. Parents, as those who know their children best, can help choose the most suitable showroom for them according to their habits. Another idea helps children understand exhibits directly through tactile materials, each subject has a board with related materials on it. For example, the "Medicine Board" has multiple pills on it, which can remind children of doctor, ambulance, hospital etc. Two ideas considered both aspects autistic children themself and parents, aim to provide a better experience for the whole family, while help children familiar with environments in advice relieve parents' tasks.
System Design
After gathering other collaborators' ideas, we found that our focus was clear about building intervention in the current system would give it a profitable structure to increase the visits of people who are facing challenges in the museum. Manali proposed to create a visiting system to figure out possibilities and limitations in each stage. Thus, we divided routine into three parts: PRE-VISIT, ON-SITE, and POST-VISIT experiences when a person decides to visit a museum.
A system design, by team
In this system design, parents and children as two different types of users, have different designs for them. While parents as those who know their children best, need to help their children create the most suitable route for their visit beforehand, children with autism have access to different resources to familiarise themselves with the museum, such as social narrative cards, sensory maps or interactive materials. After visiting, the online community offer space for parents to exchange experience for others' preparation. The outcome would be a booking system and a toolkit available for both parents and children.
Learnings and Feedback
The tutorial gave us clearer direction, while participants appreciate our ideas about separating users they suggested we reduce caregivers' burden and increase children's participation. Furthermore, they proposed that focus on a single stage in order to solve the biggest user pain. Thus, our team moved forward with a focus on family and child preparedness when they chose to visit a museum. Our design is going to be based on how to make the experience for children more memorable, and easy to interact with than if they didn't have all of those things.