5 Case Study 1 - Leicester Research Archive - University of Leicester

Web is an ideal medium for developing stories that offer multiple perspectives on
the objects in our collections. In this medium, the users can choose their own
path through the content, have access to images and animations of the objects,
and can also contribute their own perspectives. This approach represents
continuing innovation in truly interactive learning.” 229
‘Ingenious,’ a Web project by the National Museums of Science and Industry, is
far removed from the Marketing Museum paradigm. The main categories on the
home page are headed Read, Debate, See, Create. These headlines could not be
more different to those, for instance, found on the Albertina in Vienna:
Collections, Exhibitions, Events, Visitor Information, Guided Tours.
Whereas the Albertina’s website’s main categories reference the museum’s
departments, the categories of ‘Ingenious’ refer to actions people do online. They
sometimes carry out more reflective actions such as reading or seeing, sometimes
more active things such as debating and creating. Both websites are based on
museum collections, yet they could not be more different in terms of how they
position the user.
Ingenious is structured around stories behind objects. Once a user has chosen a
subject to explore, and while reading through the pages, the user is given the
option of exploring many objects relating to the text. The point is that this type of
website is story-driven rather than object-driven. The Albertina’s website is very
poor in content. But even if one disregards this, it is very clear that this type of
website positions the user differently compared to the Ingenious website.
Ingenious views the user as a learner, or an interested subject who wants to find
out about certain historical periods. For this user type, the museum provides
many stories to read and images to explore. It is interesting to note that the
imaginary user prototype for this website is not necessarily someone who wants
to visit the museum onsite. Whereas early museum websites focused upon
providing visitor and collection information which should support the visitor in
229 Natural History Museum London in Understanding the Future.
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