A Compassionate Approach to User Experience

Over the course of my Masters’ of Philosophy and Museum Studies degrees, my research centred around the idea of a “threshold” or crossing into a new space. I was fascinated with the way that entering into a new space could create a new way of thinking. Imagine walking from your living room into your kitchen to get something to eat — once you’re standing in front of the open fridge, you’ve suddenly forgotten what you wanted. Something about crossing from one room into the other changed your thinking.

A similar phenomenon can also occur on a larger scale. In particular, I believe that crossing the threshold into a museum is especially powerful. It prepares us for new experiences and changes our way of thinking about the world. Maybe we become excited, challenged, inquisitive. Maybe we take a few hours in the middle of our busy lives to slow down and take in our surroundings. Like magic, another world opens up to us on the other side of the museum’s threshold.

I understand the impact of crossing over a threshold and I understand the way visitors think when they step into a museum. I prioritize visitors and centre every decision I make around what they will feel, think, and experience on this side of the threshold. I lead with empathy and compassion, which allows me to create exhibitions that visitors truly connect with.