Make it at the eye level of kids.
Daniele Catalanotto
Feb 22, 2022
When I go with our little one to the museum, it feels to me more like a workout. I have to lift our kid to see the art piece, and once he sees it, he wants to walk to the next one. That’s pretty good for my arms muscle, but I’m not sure an elderly could do the same kind of fitness training with her grandchildren.
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, seems to understand this problem. It appears that there at least some of the masterpieces are put at the children’s eye level. The museum makes its art more accessible to the little ones. And at the same time, it saves parents like me an unwanted fitness session.
But there is another benefit to this. If you are in a wheelchair, you’ll also experience the art at a height that works better for you.
There are obviously other ways to achieve the same result. For example, in some museums, you have some sort of “platforms” where kids can go on to be higher and nearer to the art displayed. That’s great for the kids. They see the art well. For the adults, they don’t have to lift their kids. But most of the time, it doesn’t work for people in wheelchairs as they can’t go on these platforms.
I don’t know which would be the best solution that fits everyone, but I see value in this idea of bringing what’s usually up there down a little bit to make it more accessible to kids and maybe too to people who are in a wheelchair.
Little side notes
- This is the very first shitty draft for this new Service Design Principle.
- Once adapted, even more, this principle will be part of the book "Service Design Principles 201-300"
- If you have a better idea for the title of this principle that would be a great help. It's not catchy enough and clear yet I think.
6 comments
Daniele Catalanotto
Feb 23, 2022
The solution is “vertical integration”. Have a good experience for both eye levels. This example is from the Laing Gallery in Newcastle.
Thanks, James for having allowed me to use the picture and his smart comment ❤️
Patrick Marcelissen
May 24, 2022
I think in general this is true. But museums will put there art on levels meant to be for their focus groups. Still the message here is design your proposition inclusive! That’s clear
Daniele Catalanotto
Oct 19, 2022
The second version of this Service Design Principle
When I go with our little one to the museum, it feels more like a workout. I have to lift our kid to see the art piece; once he sees it, he wants to walk to the next one. That’s pretty good for my muscles. But I’m not sure an elderly could do the same fitness training with her grandchildren.
The Uffizi Gallery (1) in Florence, Italy, seems to understand this problem. The museum displays some masterpieces at the children’s eye level. So it is now more accessible to the little ones. And it saves parents like me an unwanted fitness session.
There are other ways to achieve the same result (2), but this has another benefit. If you are in a wheelchair, you’ll also experience the art at a height that works better for you.
So let me ask: How can you make your service more accessible to kids and wheelchairs?
Footnotes
(1) Thanks, Peter Horvath, for sharing the article of The Art News Paper who inspired this reflection.
(2) For example, in some museums, you have pedestals where kids be higher and nearer to the art displayed. That’s great for the kids. They see the art well. For the adults, they don’t have to lift their kids. But most of the time, it doesn’t work for people in wheelchairs as they can’t go on these platforms.
Daniele’s notes
- This is the second draft of this principle.
- I’ve reduced the length of this principle by 44% compared to its first draft.
Daniele Catalanotto
Oct 31, 2022
Thanks for your feedback JJ ;)
Yes I'll include it in the footnotes ;) See the new draft below ;)
Yes I'll include it in the footnotes ;) See the new draft below ;)
Daniele Catalanotto
Oct 31, 2022
The third draft of this Service Design Principle
When I go with our kid to the museum, it feels more like a workout. I lift him to see an art piece; once he sees it, he wants to see the next one. It’s good for my muscles. But I’m not sure a grandmother could do the same fitness training.
The Uffizi Gallery (1) in Florence, Italy, understands this problem. The museum displays some masterpieces at the children’s eye level (2). And it saves parents like me an unwanted fitness session.
There are other ways to achieve the same result (3), but this has another benefit. If you are in a wheelchair, you’ll also experience the art at a height that works better for you.
So let me ask.
How can you make your service more accessible to kids and wheelchairs?
Footnotes
(1) Uffizi Gallery. Available at https://extra.swissinnovation.academy/O6tt accessed 20 October 2022.
(2) Thanks, Peter Horvath, for sharing the article of The Art News Paper who inspired this reflection. — James Imam (2021). Uffizi gets down with the kids, lowering Renaissance masterpieces to children’s eye level. The Art Newspaper. Available at https://extra.swissinnovation.academy/sHow accessed 20 October 2022.
(3) Some museums, install pedestals where kids be higher and nearer to the art displayed. Other museums like the Laing Gallery in Newscastle uses what’s called “vertical integration” .They make the experience good for both eye levels. Thanks James Dudley for letting me know about this one.
Daniele’s notes
- This is the third draft of this principle.
- I’ve reduced the length of this principle by 13 % compared to the previous draft.
- Added a note about the vertical integration solution.