Designing for Everyone: Access and Inclusion in Museum Interpretation
Why inclusive interpretation is no longer optional—and how digital tools can help
Introduction
Most museums want to be for everyone. But too often, they’re built—consciously or not—for a narrow slice of the public: visitors who move a certain way, read a certain language, process content at a certain pace, or come from a certain cultural reference point.
In today’s world, that’s no longer acceptable.
Museums are expected to do more than open their doors. They’re expected to make sure the people walking through them feel welcomed, seen, and able to participate. That expectation doesn’t come from social pressure alone—it comes from alignment with museums’ own missions. Access, education, and public service are foundational to the field.
But meaningful inclusion isn’t just about programs or outreach. It’s also about interpretation: the language, pacing, format, and framing of how museums share knowledge. Interpretation is where content becomes connection—and if that moment isn’t accessible, the museum experience isn’t either.
This article explores the barriers that traditional interpretation creates—and how digital layers can help museums expand access, inclusion, and cultural belonging without overhauling their spaces or overburdening staff.
Inclusion Is No Longer Optional
Museums are increasingly held accountable—not only for who they serve, but how they serve them. From grantmakers to visitors to staff, stakeholders expect institutions to reflect a broader vision of public engagement. That includes:
Language accessibility
Disability inclusion
Cultural representation
Cognitive flexibility
Community voice
These are not “nice to have” elements. They are now baseline expectations for institutions that claim to be public-serving. In many cases, they’re also tied directly to funding, partnership opportunities, and reputational trust.
But most importantly, inclusive interpretation is an extension of mission. Museums aim to educate, inspire, and connect. If interpretation excludes people—because of how it’s written, presented, or limited—it undermines that goal.
This shift is not theoretical. It’s already reshaping how museums think about exhibition design, programming, and outreach. Interpretation must evolve along with it.
The Limits of Physical Space and Static Signage
Inclusion becomes particularly difficult when interpretation is limited to physical space. Wall labels can only be so long. Multilingual signage takes up more room. Audio support requires extra equipment. Enlarged fonts or Braille may not be feasible for every object. And adding more layers can quickly lead to visual clutter or confusion.
The result? Curators are forced to make trade-offs: simplify the content, choose a single language, leave out context, or avoid perspectives that don’t fit the available space. These compromises aren’t intentional exclusions—but they are exclusions nonetheless.
Static signage also lacks flexibility over time. Once content is printed, it’s fixed. Updating it means budget, logistics, and labor. That rigidity makes it harder for museums to respond to feedback, integrate new perspectives, or adapt to shifting audience needs.
And while trained educators and interpreters can offer nuance in person, they’re not always available—especially in smaller institutions or off-peak hours.
The challenge is not one of intent, but infrastructure. Physical tools alone can’t meet the full spectrum of access and inclusion needs.
Digital Layers as a Bridge, Not a Replacement
Digital interpretation—especially mobile-based tools—offers a powerful way to bridge that gap. It doesn’t replace physical signage. It extends it.
With thoughtful implementation, digital layers can allow museums to:
Offer content in multiple languages
Provide optional audio for those who benefit from hearing rather than reading
Include community or artist perspectives that wouldn’t fit on a traditional label
Surface alternate pacing for visitors who need more time or clarity
Allow visitors to choose the depth or angle that best serves them
And because it’s mobile, content doesn’t require new infrastructure or devices—just access via smartphone or tablet. Museums can expand interpretation without drilling into walls, cluttering exhibit design, or overwhelming visual environments.
Critically, these tools are optional. Visitors who prefer a traditional experience can continue as they always have. But those who need or want something different gain access that wasn’t possible before.
Digital layers are not about turning museums into tech spaces. They’re about offering quiet, dignified, user-directed ways to engage—ways that reflect the richness and diversity of today’s audiences.
What Inclusive Interpretation Can Look Like
Let’s look at how this works in practice.
1. Multilingual Access
Instead of crowding a label with three translations, a mobile tool can offer content in multiple languages with a simple tap. This removes language barriers without compromising design or readability.
2. Audio Support
Visitors with visual impairments, cognitive processing needs, or different learning styles may benefit from audio narration. Offering interpretation in both text and audio formats allows for choice and accessibility.
3. Community Voice
Static text rarely allows room for alternative perspectives. Digital interpretation can include interviews with artists, community historians, or cultural stakeholders—adding richness and resonance to the object story.
4. Sensory Flexibility
For visitors with sensory sensitivities or cognitive disabilities, dense visual labels can be overwhelming. Digital tools allow museums to provide simplified content, screen reader access, or custom pacing that supports neurodiverse engagement.
5. Content Pacing
Some visitors want quick takeaways. Others want in-depth context. Instead of forcing everyone to read the same paragraph, layered interpretation lets users choose: a summary, a story, or a deep dive.
These examples are not hypothetical. Many museums have already begun implementing inclusive design in exhibitions, programs, and interpretation. What digital tools do is make that inclusion scalable.
Building Toward Belonging
True inclusion isn’t just about removing barriers—it’s about creating a sense of belonging. Visitors should not only be able to access content; they should feel like it was created with them in mind.
This means thinking about:
Whose voice is telling the story?
Who gets to see themselves reflected?
Who feels welcome not just physically, but intellectually and culturally?
Inclusive interpretation acknowledges that not everyone comes with the same context. It creates space for multiple ways of knowing, multiple entry points, and multiple truths.
It also sends a message: You are part of this. This is for you.
That’s the difference between access and belonging. And it’s a difference that interpretation—when done well—can help bridge.
About Footnote
Footnote is a mobile interpretation platform built specifically for museums. It helps institutions expand access, offer multilingual content, and support inclusive storytelling—without overhauling exhibits or overburdening staff. With features like layered text, audio support, community voice integration, and built-in analytics, Footnote enables museums to reach more people in more meaningful ways.
Learn more at tryfootnote.com