Tag: users

As the links for the 2020 virtual study session site did not work I chose to reflect briefly on a site from the 2019 physical study visit – the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences within the Powerhouse Museum.

In terms of finding information about its users, the website was incredibly vague and the information difficult to find. There was no concrete information about the users of the museum, although assumptions can be made based on the purpose of the museum, its location and the information within it. One would assume that as an educational institute, with content ranging from smaller children to adults that the museum has no specific ‘targeted’ users, it is a general public use information agency that is conducive to a learning and interesting experience for small children right through to adults. I feel that there is more information relating to the users of the museum but they may not necessarily wish to display it to the public, although these are definitely areas of inquiry for myself if I were to conduct an investigation of the site.

The information about the agency itself was far more abundant and easy to find. The services provided by the museum, its origins and the types of information it has on display can all be learned about in great detail, in a relatively user-friendly website experience. This certainly aligns with my expectations of the agency as an educational and informative space, designed to pique interest and answer questions specifically related to the fields of arts and science with the current displays. Again, if I were to investigate the site I would have far more questions about its users and how they connect with this information, particularly the younger users and what they get out of experiences at the museum.