A good interactive installation starts with the audience, gives people a simple way in, lets them play in their own way, and is built to survive the place it lives. Get those four things right and the rest follows.
For The Box Plymouth we took digital versions of the museum’s paintings out of the galleries and onto the courtyard floor, as a play-your-way game for all ages. Here is how we would plan one for you.
begin with the audience
Who is it for, and what do they have a few minutes to do? A public installation has to work for a child, a parent, a teenager and someone passing on the way to the shops, with no instructions. Design for the widest group you can.
make it play your way
The strongest interactive work has no single correct way to use it. Give people a starting point, then let them invent their own game. That keeps groups engaged longer and creates the moments people photograph and share.
let the collection lead
If you are a museum, your collection is your advantage. Taking artworks into new places introduces them to people who would never have gone inside. The interaction should draw out something real about the art, not decorate it.
design for the outdoors
Public space is hard on everything. Think about weather, footfall, daylight, surfaces and cleaning. Anything people stand on or touch must be safe and durable, and the design must read clearly in bright sun and on a grey day.
include everyone
Check step-free routes, sight lines, contrast and how the experience works for people with different needs, including quieter ways to take part. Accessible design is usually better design for everybody.
write the brief and budget early
A good brief names the audience, the site, the dates, the message and what success looks like, such as visits, dwell time or new faces. Costs depend on the size of the site, how custom the artwork is, the materials, power and permissions, how long it stays, and what installation, removal and upkeep it needs. Being clear on these early saves money later, and a simple idea that uses the existing site, like the tile grid at the Box courtyard, is the best way to save without losing impact.
“Having worked with Ace previously, I knew his creativity and ability to respond to a brief quickly and professionally would be the perfect fit for what we were looking for from this project. Ace met the brief with openness, artistry and a can-do attitude. He was a joy to work with and we were thrilled with the outcome. A highly recommended creative and collaborator.”
interactive art in plymouth and beyond
We are a creative studio in Plymouth making spatial and interactive art for museums, councils, festivals and public spaces across the South West. If you have a space and an idea, send us your project details and we’ll get back to you within a few days.