Experience Design of Physical Space
My Experience Going to the Denver Selfie Museum and What I learned about Spacial Design.
I want to start by first giving a special Thank You to Vanessa Frye for sharing information about the Denver Selfie Museum.
If UX design considers how people feel about products and services and caters for their needs — then spacial design must work the same way. UX puts people’s needs first and creates services that are not only aesthetically pleasing but functional and sustainable as well. But how does UX relate to Denver’s Selfie Museum?
Well, To ensure people visit the museum, and enjoy their time in it, the designers must have considered where and how people would spend their time in this little museum, tucked in the corner of Market Street. What activities they would engage in within the space and the sequence in which they utilize the area are also crucial questions to ask when designing a spacial experience.
The three vital components that I found to have elevated the experiential design of the museum are the following:
Color: Color in the museum was used in a way to orient and guide people. It profoundly shaped how one would experience different spaces. Another thing I would like to point out is how the rich and vibrant colors always drew my attention.
Texture: Angel wings, flowers on the wall, giant chopsticks and Crayola crayons were some of the fun props people can hold, touch, and play (interact) within the Selfie Museum. Texture played a significant role in making the museums pop. It was the magic ingredient to making the space visually appealing.
Ambiance: visual communication through aesthetically creative themes, lighting, and music all played a vital role as stimulants to create reactions by people.
My Thoughts
The Human-Centered approach of Denver’s Selfie Museum stems from its focus on people being at the heart of the design process. We can’t deny that we know at least a handful of people who enjoy taking selfies, and to them, it’s a lifestyle. I have also noticed that the people there seemed to fit the profile of the “millennial Instagramers seeking validation” type (no offense).
The designers have done a fantastic job creating a little space that offered not only 30 different photo backdrops but also an excellent opportunity to boost your selfie game. And the museum was engaging and interactive, each room told a different story, with its play on colors and creative messages.
Each room gave an incentive for those who were willing to interact with the space longer, leaving them with colorful selfies and pictures to share with friends, family and followers.
Finally, is the pathways to each room. Navigation wise, the space is designed in a way that makes it open, fun, and inviting giving the person visiting the opportunity to roam around freely, and not feel restricted to a specific path.
