Museums often assume visitors arrive with prior knowledge or educational background. This creates barriers, particularly for people with learning disabilities. Kelvingrove Museum, a landmark deeply connected to the people of Glasgow, became the focus of this project to challenge those biases and reimagine what inclusive cultural spaces can look like.

Challenge
How can Kelvingrove Museum become more welcoming, accessible, and meaningful for visitors with learning disabilities, while also improving the experience for everyone?

Research
I carried out fieldwork at Kelvingrove and spoke with museum professionals to understand existing challenges. Key barriers included:

• Confusing wayfinding and signage.
• Reliance on dense text-based interpretation.
• Limited sensory and hands-on engagement.
• Anxiety for first-time or novice visitors.

Design Approach
The project explores how layered interpretation, sensory engagement, and choice can transform the museum journey. A central feature is a curated map system, designed through a simple 5-question method based on visitors’ preferences (e.g., sensory needs, level of structure, personal interests). The map highlights five tailored stops, encouraging exploration along the way without overwhelming the visitor.

Redesigned Touchpoints
Each path includes redesigned experiences that replace passive learning with inclusive engagement:

• Layered labels: multiple levels of interpretation for different reading abilities.
• Hands-on learning: texture, drawing, and discussion zones.
• Inclusive maps: visually engaging and accessible to visitors.
• Alternative storytelling: touch, listening, and film as equal modes to reading.

Impact
This proposal reframes the museum as a space where curiosity thrives and anxiety is reduced. By centering people with learning disabilities, it improves the overall visitor journey for everyone. Guided by the principle that there is no wrong way to visit a museum, the project reaffirms that culture truly belongs to all.