Case Captions Evaluation. Summary Report

Transcription

1 Case Captins Evaluatin Summary Reprt

2 Case Captins Evaluatin Summary Reprt July 2008 / Jb N. 565 / Versin 2 Prepared fr: Museum f Lndn Creative Research Ltd 43 Bradway, Lndn W13 9BP Phne: Fax: creative@creativeresearch.c.uk

3 Cntents 1 INTRODUCTION Backgrund Aims and Objectives Research Methd Sample 3 2 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Intrductin Objectives 4 3 GENERAL RESPONSE TO CASE CAPTIONS Intrductin Visitr Perceptins f Objects and Case Captins Overall Respnse t the Three Display Cases The Use f Pictures n the Captin Rails Captin Design Interest in Infrmatin Amunt f Infrmatin Prvided The Intrductin Sackler Hall 19 4 CASE A: SWINGING LONDON Intrductin Psitin f the Captin Rail Mary Quant Make-up The Yellw Sling Back Shes Suvenirs f Swinging Lndn 25

4 4.6 The Backgrund Film: Chelsea Bridge Bys The Children s Captin The Life Stry 29 5 CASE B: GUN POWER Intrductin Psitin f Captin Rail The Six Flint Guns The Pair f Flint Guns in the Gun Case The Picture n the Captin Rail 34 6 DESTRUCTION Intrductin Psitin f Captin Rail The Phtgraphs The Objects 38 7 VISITOR SUGGESTIONS OF CHANGES Intrductin General Imprvements Case A: Swinging Lndn Case B: Gun Pwer Case C: Destructin 44 8 APPENDIX Tpic Guide 47

5 1 Intrductin 1.1 Backgrund The Museum f Lndn is in the prcess f designing a new exhibitin fr the lwer galleries that will span frm 1666 t the present day. At several stages during develpment, Creative Research have cnducted research t help guide decisins n the design f the exhibitin. In May 2008 the Museum f Lndn cmmissined Creative Research t undertake an evaluatin f the cncept fr the The City f Lndn Gallery and an evaluatin f display case captins. This is a reprt f the findings relating t the evaluatin f case captins fr three different display cases [Swinging Lndn, Gun Pwer and Destructin], the reprt relating t the City f Lndn Gallery captins was submitted in June Aims and Objectives The verall aim f the case captins evaluatin was t: Test the Museum f Lndn s prpsed apprach t case captins with adult and family visitrs Mre specifically, the bjectives were t explre: 1. visitr respnse t the design and appearance f the captin rails and whether they inspire peple t explre the cntent f the cases 2. visitr respnse t the psitin and height f the captin rail 3. whether visitrs feel that the amunt f infrmatin prvided is apprpriate bth verall and in relatin t the individual bjects 4. hw easily visitrs recgnise the intrductry text and its relative imprtance t their enjyment and understanding f the display case 5. what visitrs think f the text at the end f the captin rail that suggests they can find ut mre in the Sackler Hall and hw they feel abut this as ppsed t finding ut mre n the spt 1

6 6. whether the type f infrmatin prvided and the style / tne f writing is interesting, engaging and pitched at the right level 7. if the phtgraphs n the captin rail wrk effectively as a means f identifying bjects in the cases 8. hw effectively the captins wrk with grups f bjects when ne r tw phtgraphs are prvided f single bjects n the captin rail can visitrs lcate the grups f bjects and can visitrs lcate the captins? 9. whether having bjects in the display case that d nt have a crrespnding captin is cnfusing r presents a prblem fr visitrs 10. hw visitrs (particularly families and children) respnd t the children s captin 11. hw visitrs respnd t the life stry captin. 1.3 Research Methd Qualitative intercept interviews with visitrs t the Museum f Lndn were utilised fr this research with adult and family grups. The views f children were captured by prmpting and questining the children wh tk part in the family grup interviews where apprpriate and bserving hw parents and their children reacted t the case captins and the crrespnding displays. The three display cases and crrespndent captins were labelled (visitrs were nt tld the case names, they were referred t as case A, B r C). Case A: Swinging Lndn Case B: Gun Pwer Case C: Destructin Visitrs were apprached in the main fyer and taken t a lwer level f the Museum where the display cases and crrespnding captins had been set up. The rder in which visitr grups were taken t the display cases was rtated t ensure all cases were seen first by visitrs sme f the time. Case A was always seen either first r secnd because it was the largest case and there were a number f additinal issues t 2

7 explre (the children s captin and the life stry). Mderatrs aimed t explre all three cases with visitrs, but in a few instances nly tw cases were explred. The interviews tk place in the Museum f Lndn frm the 19 th t the 21 st f June (a Saturday was included t ensure family grups were represented in the sample). A full tpic guide and rtatin schedule is available in the appendix. 1.4 Sample A ttal f 26 interviews were carried acrss the sample with 19 adults and 7 family grups. 13 interviews were with visitrs frm the UK r Lndn and 13 with verseas visitrs (see table 1 fr sample structure) Table 1: Interview sample UK / Lndn Overseas Ttals Adult Family Ttals A ttal f 48 peple tk part in the interviews. Where interviews were with tw r mre peple respndents were either friends r family (n interviews tk place where visitrs in the same interview did nt knw each ther). The gender breakdwn was: 25 (52%) female 23 (48%) male In terms f age the sample can be brken dwn as fllws: 10 (21%) visitrs were under the age f 16 7 (15%) were between the ages f 17 and (44%) were between the ages f 35 and 54, and 10 (21%) were ver the age f 55. 3

8 2 Cnclusins and Recmmendatins 2.1 Intrductin This sectin prvides a summary f findings fr each f the research bjectives and recmmendatins, where apprpriate. 2.2 Objectives 1. Visitr respnse t the design and appearance f the captin rails and whether they inspire peple t explre the cntent f the cases Overall, visitrs respnded psitively t the design and appearance f the captin rails. They felt that the infrmatin prvided n the captins wuld inspire them t cntinue t lk at the bjects (nce they had read the infrmatin), particularly when this prvided interesting details abut the bjects. Using pictures f the bjects n the captin rail as the key did nt discurage peple frm lking at the bjects. All visitrs maintained that they wuld still want t lk at the bjects in the display case. 2. Visitr respnse t the psitin and height f the captin rail The verall respnse t the height and psitin f the captin rail n Swinging Lndn was psitive. Althugh visitrs were appreciative f the psitining f the Gun Pwer captin (at the back f the case), a number felt that it (alng with the case itself) was t lw. 1 The captin rail at Destructin was als perceived t be t lw by mst and a number cmmented hw they needed t bend dwn t find the captins related t the bjects and phtgraphs n display. Recmmendatin The Museum shuld recnsider the height f the captin rail fr Destructin, this, alng with a number f ther factrs, meant peple were mre critical f this display. Bth the captin rail and the display case fr Gun Pwer culd be raised a little (this wuld als stp children climbing n the display case). 1 The mck up Gun Pwer case was psitined lwer than the planned final display case will be in the lwer gallery. 4

9 3. Whether visitrs feel that the amunt f infrmatin prvided is apprpriate bth verall and in relatin t the individual bjects When cnsidering the captin rails in their entirety, nearly all visitrs cnsidered the amunt f infrmatin included t be just right. It was nly when discussing individual captins related t bjects that a few (wh were particularly interested in specific bjects) felt that nt enugh infrmatin had been prvided. Sme did nt think the prvisin f a title and date was enugh infrmatin, particularly when they culd see ther bjects had mre explanatry infrmatin. There did seem t be an issue with the infrmatin prvided abut the six flint guns (Gun Pwer) there was bth t much (t be included tgether in ne blck f text) and t little (in terms f specific infrmatin abut each f the guns frm the perspective f thse wh were interested). Recmmendatin The Museum needs t balance visitrs need fr infrmatin with the avidance f captin rails that are t cluttered and verwhelming. The Museum shuld avid large blcks f text and if there is a need t include mre infrmatin, ensure this is spaced ut alng the captin rail. This apprach culd be taken t altering the infrmatin abut the six flint guns, perhaps by spreading ut the text and prviding ne line f infrmatin abut each f the guns. The Museum might als want t re-think nly prviding the title and date fr bjects and perhaps include a line f cntextual infrmatin. See als cmments relating t bjectives 5 and Hw easily visitrs recgnise the intrductry text and its relative imprtance t their enjyment and understanding f the display case The intrductry text was nt always recgnised by visitrs and when it was, they were nt always drawn t it initially. Even thse wh had read it (either befre r after they had lked at a few bjects) did nt cnsider it prminent enugh t attract attentin. There were mixed views f the imprtance f reading the intrductry text in terms f understanding f the case. Althugh sme thught it was useful t prvide the cntext, mst felt peple wuld understand what the displays were trying t achieve even if they did nt read the intrductin. Nbdy thught that nt reading the intrductin wuld spil an individual s enjyment f the case. 5

10 Recmmendatin The intrductry text culd be made mre prminent n the captin rail, perhaps by highlighting it in a different clur and / r increasing the fnt size. The Museum might als want t cnsider linking the case number t the intrductry text. 5. What visitrs think f the text at the end f the captin rail that suggests they can find ut mre in the Sackler Hall and hw they feel abut this as ppsed t finding ut mre n the spt In the main visitrs thught the text at the end f the captin rail that suggested they culd find ut mre referred t either the bjects in the case r the wider theme f the case. There was sme cnfusin frm visitrs wh saw the captin at Swinging Lndn wh thught it culd refer t finding ut mre abut Daisy the Dll. Sme visitrs felt the Museum shuld be mre explicit in their wrding and inclusin f the wrd infrmatin was suggested as well as an indicatin f the frmat (literature, interactive, cmputer based etc) f the infrmatin. Visitr respnses t captin psitining were mixed sme felt it was fine where it was, thers thught it wuld be clearer by the intrductin. Views were als mixed in terms f hw peple felt abut ging t Sackler Hall as ppsed t finding ut mre n the spt, which suggested this depends n persnal preferences. Recmmendatin The Museum shuld ensure visitrs are clear abut what this captin refers t (fr example is it t find ut mre abut the bjects in the display, the themes arund the case r bth). As there were a number f cmments frm visitrs that suggest peple wuld like t knw mre abut sme f the bjects n display, this is f key imprtance. Firstly, the Museum shuld ensure that the captin des nt verlap with ther captins t reduce the chance f cnfusin. Secndly, cnsideratin shuld be given t the infrmatin visitrs wuld need t have when they arrive at Sackler Hall - fr example wuld they need t knw the number f the display case r the name f the bject they were interested in. It is essential that visitrs knw this befre they g t Sackler Hall, therwise if they arrive withut the necessary details t access further infrmatin they are likely t get frustrated. 6

11 Thirdly, ne ptin might be t link this captin t the case number and the intrductry text as all three prvide general infrmatin abut the display case (whereas the captin labels relate t specific bjects in the display). 6. Whether the type f infrmatin prvided and the style / tne f writing is interesting, engaging and pitched at the right level The extent t which visitrs engaged with the infrmatin depended smewhat n their interest in the subject matter. All visitrs engaged with the infrmatin they were interested in and cmmented that they had fund it interesting. Nbdy cnsidered the infrmatin was bring r uninfrmative. 7. If the phtgraphs n the captin rail wrk effectively as a means f identifying bjects in the cases The verall respnse frm visitrs t the use f pictures as a means f identifying the bjects in the display cases was psitive. This was particularly the case frm thse wh were initially taken t Swinging Lndn r Gun Pwer where visitrs thught it culd save them time (althugh at Gun Pwer there was an issue with visitrs recgnising where the start f the captin fr the six flint guns was). The respnse t the idea fr Destructin was nt s psitive and althugh visitrs generally fund the phtgraphs in the display case and the infrmatin n the captin rail, they did nt like the additinal time it tk them t d this. This (alng with the lw psitin f the captin rail) led t sme visitrs being quite dismissive f the idea and there were cmments that a numerical methd wuld have been mre effective. Recmmendatin Althugh a few visitrs suggested numbering the phtgraphs and captins fr Destructin, ur interpretatin is that the prblems arse fr a number f reasns: 1. The small size f the pictures made it difficult t link the captins and the phtgraphs 7

12 2. The mismatch in rientatin, where sme pictures in prtrait rientatin were represented by pictures in landscape rientatin n the captin rail and vice versa 3. The lack f alignment between the phtgraphs in the display case and their crrespnding captins n the rail 4. The psitin f the captin rail itself. It was the cmbinatin f the abve which led peple t be critical and suggest alternatives (such as using a numerical methd). If the Museum culd reslve these issues, in ur view the methd wuld wrk as well as it did in the ther tw display cases. 8. Hw effectively the captins wrk with grups f bjects when ne r tw phtgraphs are prvided f single bjects n the captin rail can visitrs lcate the grups f bjects and can visitrs lcate the captins? When bjects were displayed in grups and visitrs were asked either t find the captin r the bjects they culd easily d this. Sme grupings f bjects (the Mary Quant make-up) made mre sense than thers such as the Suvenirs f Swinging Lndn. Views were mixed as t whether all items in the same captin grup needed t be displayed tgether in the display case, sme thught they shuld sme were nt wrried. Sme bjects that were cnsidered part f a grup by the Museum (the pstcards were cnsidered part f the Suvenirs grup) were nt always perceived as such by visitrs. Althugh visitrs did nt find it cnfusing that the grup f guns were included in the same captin (in this case all six guns were shwn n the captin rail) there was a feeling frm sme that mre infrmatin abut each f the guns wuld have been f value. Recmmendatin The Museum shuld ensure that the picture n the captin rail used t illustrate a grup f bjects is a prminent bject in the grup (such as the red nail varnish in the grup f Mary Quant make-up). There wuld als be sme merit in aligning any grups f bjects with the infrmatin n the captin rail (where this is pssible). 8

13 The Museum shuld ensure large blcks f text are nt used t describe grups f bjects if there is a lt t say abut them the Museum shuld think abut separating the captins. 9. Whether having bjects in the display case that d nt have a crrespnding captin is cnfusing r presents a prblem fr visitrs Visitrs quickly realised that the yellw sling back shes in the Swinging Lndn case did nt have a crrespnding captin. In cntrast, when lking at Destructin, it was nt always clear that sme f the phtgraphs did nt have a captin. If a visitr was interested in a particular bject r phtgraph the lack f a crrespnding captin culd prve frustrating. Indeed, at the utset f the interviews (when discussing the issue in general) visitrs felt that all bjects shuld have a crrespnding captin and, if they did nt, they might perceive that the Museum had made a mistake. Recmmendatin Ideally, the Museum shuld include captins fr all bjects that are included in the display that are nt cnsidered part f a grup. Even if this is just a title and date it wuld be enugh t ensure visitrs understd that the Museum had nt made a mistake n the captin rail. It als prvides sme reference (a title) fr thse wh want t find ut mre abut it in the Sackler Hall. 10. Hw visitrs (particularly families and children) respnd t the children s captin Generally, adults did nt always recgnise the captin as ne that was aimed at children (adults in family grup were mre likely t ntice this) althugh they recgnised it was different. There were mixed views n the inclusin f the cartn character and the missin f the picture f the bject in the display ( Daisy the dll ). Overall, visitrs thught that the design shuld be mre fcused t attract the attentin f children and make it explicit (withut having t read the captin) that the intended audience was children. There were als cmments frm a few respndents that the amunt f infrmatin might be t much fr yunger children. 9

14 Recmmendatin The Museum shuld think abut the design f this captin t make it stand ut frm the rest f the captin rail (as visitrs appreciated it was a gd idea). Ideally, the captin wuld include a picture f the bject t which it refers. The amunt f infrmatin displayed in the captin needs t take int accunt the ability f the child f whatever age grup it is aimed at. 11. Hw visitrs respnd t the life stry captin Overall, visitrs respnded psitively t the life stry captin and mst recgnised it as a stand alne captin (althugh a number scanned the display fr an bject). Nearly all had heard f Twiggy and she was viewed as a suitable icn frm the era f Swinging Lndn. Althugh visitrs were nt critical f the captin as such a number did suggest an bject in the display case might add value. Recmmendatin The Museum might want t think abut adding an bject (a larger phtgraph f Twiggy, pssible frm a fashin sht r a magazine cver) in the display case. Althugh nt essential (and nt a key pint f criticism), it is clear that fr many visitrs this wuld add t the captin and the display. 10

15 3 General Respnse t Case Captins 3.1 Intrductin This chapter begins by explring visitr perceptins f their wn behaviur when lking at display cases. We then g n t prvide general feedback n the case captins including respnses t use f pictures as the key t bjects, captin design, the infrmatin prvided and the amunt f text n the captin rails. Finally, we reprt visitr behaviur and views in relatin t the intrductry sectin and ging t Sackler Hall t find ut mre. 3.2 Visitr Perceptins f Objects and Case Captins Befre explring visitr reactins t the case captins we asked a cuple f questins related t their behavir when lking at similar displays cntaining bjects and captins. When asked if they wuld lk at bjects then study the captins fr thse they fund interesting, lk at captins then find the bjects fr thse they fund interesting r a cmbinatin f bth, mst [19 ut f 27], said they wuld lk at the bjects and then try t find ut mre abut them. Just 1 ut f 27 said they studied the captins and fr thse that lked interesting tried t find the bjects they referred t, while 7 ut f 27 did a cmbinatin f bth. In terms f time spent lking at different aspects f the display, visitrs were split in their perceptins f their behaviur. 12 ut f 26 said they spent mre time lking at the bjects in the display, 11 ut f 26 thught they spent an equal amunt f time lking at the bjects and reading the captins. Just 3 ut f 26 said they spent mre time lking at the captins. Taking all f the abve int accunt, it wuld seem that visitrs place mre emphasis n the bjects than they d the case captins. Hwever, when we asked the same visitrs hw imprtant they thught it was that every bject has a crrespnding captin r label, mst cnsidered it imprtant. Thse that did nt thught it wuld depend n the level f interest the individual had in the bject and / r their clseness t the subject at hand did they already cnsider themselves knwledgeable enugh? When asked hw they wuld feel if they culd nt find a captin r label fr an bject they were particularly interested in, mst cmmented that they wuld feel frustrated r annyed. A cuple wuld questin why the bject had been included in the display if it was imprtant enugh t be displayed, why was it nt imprtant enugh t be 11

16 explained? One r tw thught they might view it as a mistake n the Museum s part - had they missed a captin ut in errr? Wuld be seen as a mistake by the Museum, [it] shuld have infrmatin therwise it is just a randm bject. Adults interviewed as part f family grup thught that t keep things simple fr children t fllw it wuld be mst effective if every bject had its wn captin. This wuld ensure children culd find everything they might lk fr. 3.3 Overall Respnse t the Three Display Cases The verall respnse t the three cases was psitive (regardless f which case was seen initially), althugh there were a few critical cmments. Initial reactins t the individual cases were as fllws: Swinging Lndn Nearly all visitrs (particularly females) liked this case. They cnsidered it interesting and clurful and sme felt it was an area they culd easily relate t (they had lived thrugh the 60 s). A cuple thught the case was a little t busy and included t many bjects and captins t easily take in. I can relate t this subject area mre, it s clurful and it s pleasing t lk at. Gun Pwer Visitrs preferred this case in terms f bject and captin alignment and a number initially cmmented n the clarity f the case design. There were few dislikes, ne cnsidered the display t traditinal (and ptentially un-engaging) and ne thught it shuld be lit up mre effectively t shw the detail n the guns. Clear, because the pictures are laid ut the same as the captins. Destructin The verall respnse t the subject matter was ne f interest and visitrs felt the material had been dealt with sympathetically, while emphasising the bleakness and devastatin. This added t their understanding. The main criticism was the difficulty in linking the small pictures f the 12

17 phtgraphs in the captin rail with the phtgraphs in the display case (this is expanded n in sectin 5.4). Gives a gd idea f destructin, shws what peple in the wrld experienced. 3.4 The Use f Pictures n the Captin Rails General view The verall respnse t the captins rails was psitive; mst visitrs culd see the value f using the pictures as the key fr the bjects n display. Thse that liked the idea cnsidered it: interesting fr sme this was smething they had nt seen befre and they thught it was uncnventinal in a psitive way ptentially a way f saving time - a few thught that the use f pictures n the Swinging Lndn captin rail culd save time in finding the bjects (the ppsite was true fr the Destructin captin rail) useful fr yung children and visitrs frm verseas a cuple thught thse withut a gd cmmand f English wuld easily be able t link the bjects and the captins (again these cmments related t Swinging Lndn and nt Destructin ) There were criticisms f the idea frm the few wh were nt s keen in general and thse that had issues with a particular case captins (mainly at Destructin ). Reasns given by visitrs fr nt liking the idea included: a preference fr a mre traditinal methd ne r tw cmmented that they preferred the use f numbers in general and that the idea f using pictures was trying t be t cl. One (avid visitr t museums) thught the idea dumbed dwn the displays in general ptentially difficult fr clur blind visitrs ne thught this wuld make linking the bjects and captins in Swinging Lndn difficult 13

18 captins and bjects are nt aligned sme cmmented that in the Swinging Lndn and the Destructin displays bjects and captins were nt aligned. A few (wh seemed t prefer clearly rdered and aligned items) seemed particularly put ff by this and smetimes cntinued t mentin it thrughut the interview. Overall, visitrs thught that they wuld still want t find the bject even thugh they culd see a phtgraph in the captin rail. In ther wrds the phtgraphs did nt act as a substitute fr the bjects. At case A ( Swinging Lndn ) and case B ( Gun Pwer ), peple felt it was imprtant t lk at the actual artifacts and cnsidered the picture n the captin rail as a reference pint. Lking at the bjects even when these were als pictures was still cnsidered imprtant at case C ( Destructin ). The main reasn given was that the crrespnding picture n the captin rail was t small t see the detail. It s like a quick reference, s we knw we are lking at the right thing. Visitrs were asked if they wuld spend mre r less time lking at the bjects in the display cases if there were n captin rails at all they thught they wuld spend less time. Visitrs reasned that if there was nthing t tell them abut the bjects, the displays wuld be less engaging, it wuld be a case f that s pretty and keep mving, in the wrds f ne respndent Specific views related t each case Respnses t the use f pictures n the captin rail were mre psitive fr Swinging Lndn and Gun Pwer than thse t Destructin. We have given an verview f the respnses belw and further details can be fund in sectins 3, 4 and 5, ( Swinging Lndn, Gun Pwer and Destructin respectively): Swinging Lndn: Visitrs wh were taken t this case first were particularly psitive abut the case captins. They linked the bjects and captins easily due t the different types f bjects in a variety f clurs, which were easy t pick ut n the captin rail. Pictures make it interesting and as they are in clur yu can find them. 14

19 Gun Pwer Visitrs thught the idea f using pictures as the key als wrked fr this case. They reasned the alignment f the captins and the bjects and the small number f bjects ensured the idea wrked, rather than the individuality f the bjects themselves. Destructin The use f pictures fr this case (when a number f the bjects were black and white phtgraphs) was less well received and a few questined why a mre traditinal methd f numbering the bjects (particularly the phtgraphs) had nt been used fr this case. 3.5 Captin Design In the main, the design and layut f the captins was well received, particularly the simplicity f the captin rail fr Gun Pwer. Visitrs cnsidered that the size f the was text fine, althugh a few cmmented that lder peple might find it difficult particularly where the captin rails were lw ( Destructin and Gun Pwer ). Having said this, nne f the lder visitrs mentined that they had truble reading the captins. The pictures n the captin rail fr Destructin were cnsidered t be t small (this is expanded n in sectin 5). Adults and children wh were interviewed as part f a family grup als cnsidered the layut and the size f the text t be suitable. One child demnstrated with ease that he culd read the text when standing a few feet back. 3.6 Interest in Infrmatin As might be expected, the extent t which visitrs engaged with, and were interested in, the captins depended smewhat n their interest in the subject. A number f visitrs make explicit cmments abut whether they were interested r nt in the subject f the display cases. There was sme indicatin that peple fund it mre difficult t give specific cmments n the captins if they were nt particularly interested in the subject. They generally said the infrmatin is kay and smetimes wuld add they were nt really interested in guns, fr example, and might nt have spent much time lking at the display in real life. Hwever, there were n cmments that any f the infrmatin was uninteresting r bring. 15

20 There was a marked gender difference at cases A ( Swinging Lndn ) and B ( Gun Pwer ). Females (including female children) were mre interested in Swinging Lndn while males (particularly male children) demnstrated mre interest in Gun Pwer. Destructin interested bth males and females and fr this reasn was prbably the mst widely appreciated f the three displays. Overall, visitrs cnsidered that the infrmatin they had read was at the right level nbdy cmmented had any truble understanding what was written. In all three cases, peple felt that the infrmatin encuraged the visitr t lk at the bjects. One r tw cmmented that althugh they wuld tend t lk at the bjects first and then read the captins, if the captins were interesting they wuld then lk at the bject in mre detail. A few were als able t elabrate n what they fund particularly interesting in relatin t the three displays as fllws: Swinging Lndn ne particularly liked the infrmatin abut where the shes were made and thught this wuld encurage peple t study the shes in mre detail. Anther was particularly interested in the Mary Quant dress. Gun Pwer a few thught the infrmatin was effective in prviding the cntext and ne was psitive abut the stries n the captin rail The level f detail and the stries n the captins is very gd. Destructin a few thught the captins prvided a gd (but nt t detailed explanatin) f the phtgraphs n display. One thught the captins effectively illustrated a sense f the envirnment and chas that wuld have been experienced. Captins give a gd descriptin and detail, there is a sense f the envirnment and chas. Overall, adults interviewed as part f family grups thught the infrmatin wuld be engaging fr children (althugh they recgnised that children wuld nt read everything). They als mentined that children smetimes need t be prmpted int reading captins (a number f adults did this during the interview). One cnsidered it 16

21 imprtant t prvide cntextual infrmatin abut the bjects (where they were frm, what they are made f etc.) in a child friendly way t encurage children t be inquisitive and study the bjects in detail. 3.7 Amunt f Infrmatin Prvided Mst visitrs felt the amunt f text displayed n the captin rails as a whle was just right there was enugh t prvide interesting infrmatin, but it wuld nt verwhelm peple. Just ne r tw cmmented that there was t much infrmatin and this was related t Swinging Lndn where it was recgnised this was due t the large number f bjects n display. Tw (avid museum visitrs interviewed tgether) thught that there shuld be mre infrmatin n the captin rails and reasned that if peple did nt want t read everything they culd stp reading. In a general sense, visitrs felt mst f the captins explaining individual bjects cntained the right amunt f infrmatin and reasned that t much wuld put peple ff reading abut the items n display. On the whle, it tells yu what yu need. There were a few cmments related t instances f where either t little r t much infrmatin had been prvided abut specific bjects fr each f the three captin rails as fllws: Swinging Lndn a cuple nticed that nly the title had been prvided fr the Mary Quant plastic bts (1966). Nt nly did this nt prvide enugh explanatin abut the shes, it was cnsidered incnsistent with the rest f the captins (where at least sme explanatin was given). One thught there was t much infrmatin abut the Mary Quant dress (1966), but this was mre in relatin t freeing up space fr infrmatin t be added abut the shes rather than a lack f interest the dress. Gun Pwer A number picked up n the large blck f text that explained the six flint guns ( ). A few (with less interest in the guns) thught that this shuld be reduced they reasned that the large paragraph might put peple ff reading abut the guns. 17

22 There s a lt f wrds and infrmatin t take in. Destructin This case received the least cmments in terms f whether there was t little r tw much infrmatin t explain the individual bjects. There was just ne cmment frm a child interviewed as part f a family grup wh questined why there was n additinal infrmatin abut casualty label c ther than just the title and date. Overall, visitrs interviewed as part f family grups felt the amunt f text, bth verall and fr each item was fine (and sufficient t prvide interested children with infrmatin). Adults thught that the amunt f detail families wuld want t g int at each display wuld depend bth n hw much time they had and what their children fund interesting. 3.8 The Intrductin Extent t which peple read the intrductin Mst visitrs read the intrductin at sme pint when lking at the case. A few read it when they were first brught t the case, but mst lked at sme f the bjects first, then read the intrductin. Thse wh did nt read the intrductin cmmented that it was nt a natural reactin t lk at the captin rail frm the utset, cnfirming the respnses t the behaviral questins at the start f the interview when mst visitrs said they lked at the bjects first and then the captin rail. A few mentined that nce they had been primed t lk at the intrductin at the first case they lked at (by the mderatr s questins) they then lked fr it when taken t the remaining display cases. In ther wrds, if they knw the infrmatin is accessible, they will take advantage f it. One r tw thught that whether a persn read the intrductin r nt wuld partly depend n where they were standing when they had apprached the case. If the intrductin was blcked by peple they might nt read r even ntice it. Thse wh did nt read the intrductin (as well as a number wh did) did nt think it was a particularly prminent aspect f the display (althugh they generally nticed it was in bld text). They felt that it was nt immediately effective in attracting visitrs attentin. 18

23 3.8.2 Perceived purpse f the intrductin All agreed that the purpse f the intrductin was t set the scene, prvide the backgrund / cntext r let peple knw what they might expect t find in the display case. Let s yu knw what is happening in the case. Sets the backgrund, the idea f what s ging n scially Perceived imprtance f reading the intrductin Visitr views were mixed in terms f the imprtance f reading the intrductin t aid understanding f the cntents f the display case. Adults (nt in family grups) thught it wuld be imprtant fr children t read as they wuld be likely t pick and chse the ther captins they read and the intrductin wuld prvide a gd verview. A few adults interviewed as part f a family grup disagreed. They felt it wuld be mre useful fr children t dive int the detail and lk at the bjects rather then spend time reading the cntextual infrmatin. In terms f their wn understanding, mst adults did nt feel reading the intrductin was necessary. A cuple mentined that because individual bjects were clearly dated an understanding f the time perid wuld cme frm the individual captins themselves. One r tw cnsidered it imprtant that displays speak fr themselves rather than rely n the intrductin t prvide the cntext. Nbdy felt enjyment f the bjects and the display case in general wuld be cmprmised if an individual had nt read the intrductin. 3.9 Sackler Hall On all three case captins there was a red bx n the right hand side that prvided a case number, and included the wrding t find ut mre g t the Sackler Hall. On the Destructin captin rail this label did nt verlap any f the ther captins, n the Gun Pwer captin rail it verlapped slightly with the picture f the painting and n the Swinging Lndn captin rail it verlapped with the Daisy the Dll captin aimed at children and families (bth captins were als encased in a red brder). 19

24 3.9.1 Case 25 When visitrs were asked what case 25 referred t, at Gun Pwer and Destructin all thught it referred t the case as a whle. At Swinging Lndn there was sme cnfusin and a few thught it referred t finding ut mre abut Daisy the Dll. Althugh they recgnised themselves that the label referred t the whle case, sme thught that thers wuld cnfuse it with the Daisy the Dll captin. One questined the lgic f brdering bth the Daisy the Dll captin and the case label in the same clur (particularly as they verlapped). The adults in the family grups thught that children wuld nt lk at r ntice the reference t the case number, but they did nt think this wuld be an issue T find ut mre There were mixed interpretatins f t find ut mre frm visitrs. Sme thught it referred t the bjects in the case, thers suggested a wider theme, fr example the era f Swinging Lndn, abut guns in general, abut Wrld War II. One r tw wh saw the captin at Swinging Lndn were cnfused and thught it meant t find ut mre abut Daisy the Dll. Again, althugh they were nt cnfused themselves they thught that thers (ptentially children) culd be. A few cmmented that the wrding was nt bvius and they questined exactly what they wuld find ut mre abut. One r tw thught the wrd infrmatin shuld be included, fr example t find ut mre infrmatin g t Sackler Hall r fr mre infrmatin g t Sackler Hall. One adult thught this wuld be particularly imprtant fr freign visitrs withut a gd grasp f English as they wuld be primed t lk fr the wrd infrmatin if they wanted t find ut mre abut smething. Sme thught the captin shuld be clearer abut exactly what the visitr will find in Sackler Hall bth in terms f what the infrmatin will be abut (the bjects in the case, ther bjects, the wider theme f the case) and its frmat (interactive displays, reference material etc.) A cuple f adults interviewed as part f a family grup als thught the sign culd be mre explicit in, s children wuld knw that they are ging t be able t use cmputers fr example. One child cmmented that the sign made sense and cmmented that he wuld be able t find ut mre abut the captins. Again adults in family grups thught children 20

25 culd be prmpted as necessary if they did nt pick up n the captin. One family grup did cnfuse the captin with Daisy the Dll and explicitly stated that it was a reference t finding ut mre abut this particular sectin f the captin Psitining n the captin rail When asked if they wuld prefer the reference t case 25 and t find ut mre t be mved t the left f the captin rail (near t the intrductin) there were mixed views. Sme thught mving it wuld be effective and reasned that peple wuld be mre likely t ntice and read it if it was near the intrductin. Others cnsidered it fine where it was and reasned that nce yu had reached the end f the case yu were tld where yu culd find ut mre infrmatin abut it Visitr views n accessing infrmatin in Sackler Hall There were mixed views abut ging smewhere else t find ut mre infrmatin. Sme thught it was fine (particularly if an individual was interested in the subject). Depends n interest, if [I was] really interested in smething [I] wuldn t mind ging smewhere else t find ut mre abut it. A number reasned that peple are used t ging t ther areas in museums t access additinal infrmatin (particularly if it is a bank f cmputer terminals). Peple are used t mving smewhere else t use PCs s this is fine. Others thught it wuld be mre cnvenient if additinal infrmatin (and ptentially a cmputer terminal) was near the display and thught this wuld result in a higher number f visitrs reading / using it. It wuld be helpful t have a terminal near the display. There were mixed views n ging t Sackler Hall frm family grups. Sme thught that ging t anther area t access cmputers at the end f their visit wuld be fine (and children wuld enjy this). Others preferred t access additinal infrmatin n the spt and ne child cmmented that they wuld like cmputers shuld be in the same rm as the displays. 21

26 4 Case A: Swinging Lndn 4.1 Intrductin This sectin fcuses n visitrs specific views and reactins t aspects f case A: Swinging Lndn. It begins with visitr reactins t the psitining f the captin rail and then ges n t explre reactins t specific bject and captin relatinships starting with the grup f Mary Quant make-up, fllwed by the yellw sling back shes (that d nt have a crrespnding captin) and the suvenirs f swinging Lndn (that are displayed apart in the case but are mentined in the same captin). We then feedback visitr views f the backgrund film (Chelsea Bridge Bys), the captin aimed at families and children (Daisy the Dll) and the life stry captin (Twiggy). A picture f case A: Swinging Lndn is shwn belw Figure 1: Case A: Swinging Lndn 4.2 Psitin f the Captin Rail The psitin f the captin rail was generally perceived as fine and was the preferred f the three captin rails. One r tw cmmented that in this instance they liked the 22

27 idea f including all f the captins n a rail running alng the frnt f the case as ppsed t splitting the captins and placing them beside the individual bjects. One thught the captin rail was in a gd psitin t switch between reading the infrmatin and lking at the bjects. One r tw cnsidered the rail a little t lw (they had yet t visit Gun Pwer and Destructin ), hwever, ne recgnised that it culd nt be psitined much higher as the Museum wuld need t ensure children are catered fr. One felt that care needed t be taken t ensure that nce glass had been placed ver the case, any reflectins created did nt hinder peple frm reading the infrmatin. 4.3 Mary Quant Make-up Ease f recgnitin The grup f Mary Quant make-up cntains apprximately 13 items, the captin explaining the make-up was belw it n the captin rail and cntained a picture f just tw f the items, a red nail varnish and a case f eye crayns. The mderatr pinted t the grup f make-up items (but did nt refer t it by name) and asked visitrs t find the crrespnding captin. All visitrs were easily able t lcate the crrect captin and tld the mderatr s they reasned that the captin was directly belw the grup f make-up items and hw the red nail varnish n the captin was easy t spt in the grup f six nail varnishes included in the display. I lked at the bright red nail varnish and fund it n the rail Reactin t the idea In this instance mst visitrs thught the idea f using tw pictures as the key fr a grup f bjects made sense. They explained that as all items were examples f makeup and easily recgnisable as such, they felt this made sense. One r tw nted that this was the nly way the make-up culd be shwn effectively as including every item wuld have resulted in a very cluttered captin. because therwise it wuld be cluttered, the nail varnish is easily identifiable. 23

28 Children were als easily able t find the captin frm the grup f make-up and, like the adults, they seemed t fcus n the red nail varnish t d this. 4.4 The Yellw Sling Back Shes Ease f recgnitin The yellw sling back shes were psitined at the frnt f the display case between the Mary Quant plastic bts and the Mary Quant make-up. There is n crrespnding title r captin n the captin rail. The mderatr pinted t the shes [but did nt refer t them by name] and asked visitrs t try t find a crrespnding captin. Mst visitrs realised relatively quickly that there was n crrespnding captin n the rail and sme were able t explain hw they went abut attempting t find the captin. One r tw lked fr infrmatin abut the shes near t the captin abut the Mary Quant plastic bts (it seemed a sensible place t lk). Anther linked the shes t the Twiggy life stry and reasned that the yellw sling backs might be an example f the kind f shes Twiggy wuld have wrn Reactin t the idea Mst visitrs felt that there shuld at least be sme infrmatin t explain the shes and put them int cntext. Everything shuld be identified and explained if pssible. Initially, sme were nt that wrried abut the lack f infrmatin abut the shes. Hwever, when questined further, it ften transpired that they were just nt interested in thse particular shes. If the bject had been smething they were interested in, and they had fund that it did nt have a crrespnding captin, this wuld have caused frustratin and, pssibly, annyance. Prbably a little frustrated, if interested. A cuple (wh were interested in the shes) thught there shuld be infrmatin and questined why a simple title and date (like the Mary Quant bts) had nt been included. Others cmmented that the lack f a captin culd lead them t questin the imprtance f the bject and the reasn fr its inclusin - if the shes were imprtant enugh t include, why were they nt imprtant enugh t warrant a captin? One r 24

29 tw cmmented that if they nticed an bject did nt have a captin (when mst ther bjects did) they might assume the Museum had made a mistake and missed a captin ut. When asked where they might find ut mre if they were particularly interested in the shes, mst mentined Sackler Hall, which indicates they had picked up n this infrmatin frm earlier n in the interview. A cuple mentined they wuld g t Sackler Hall spntaneusly, when they were initially tld there was n captin t explain the shes. 4.5 Suvenirs f Swinging Lndn Ease f recgnitin The suvenirs f swinging Lndn included a red matchbx bus, a ftball masct, sme pstcards (which are all displayed tgether t the left f the case) and a tea twel depicting Chelsea (which is displayed in the middle f the case). The related captin is t the left f the case (belw the matchbx bus and ftball masct and slightly t the left f the pstcards) and includes a picture f the bus and the tea twel, which are explained as individual bjects (there is n reference t the masct r the pstcards). The mderatr pinted ut the captin t visitrs (but did nt mentin what it related t) and asked visitrs t find bth the crrespnding bjects. Visitr views n the bject and captin arrangement were then explred. All visitrs fund bth the bus and the tea twel they tk slightly lnger t find the tea twel, but maintained that they did nt have any great difficulty in ding this. There were mixed views abut separating the tea twel frm the rest f the grup Reactin t the idea Thse wh had already expressed sme dissatisfactin with the lack f alignment between bjects and captins, unsurprisingly, did nt like the idea. They cnsidered it cnfusing and thught it lacked lgic (even thugh they had lcated the tea twel relatively easily). Others seemed t cnsider it almst as a nn issue it did nt matter where the bjects were displayed as lng as they culd find them (which they demnstrated they culd). Althugh a few thught it might wrk better if all suvenirs were displayed tgether, they did nt seem t cnsider it a big issue that they were nt. 25

30 Tgether if pssible, but it s nt a majr issue. A few recgnised the design cnstraints f the case and explicitly mentined that they understd why the tea twel had been displayed in the centre. It wuld lk dd at the end. Visitrs interpreted the pstcards in a number f ways. Sme thught they shuld be pictured and included in the captin. Like visitr views abut the yellw sling back shes, a few thught visitrs wuld becme frustrated if they lked fr infrmatin abut the pstcards and culd nt find it. A few did nt cnsider the pstcards as suvenirs; instead they thught they were a visual representatin f areas / streets f prminence in swinging Lndn. Fr this reasn they thught they shuld be linked t the intrductry sectin (where the areas / streets were actually mentined). The pstcards are mre linked t the intrductin sectin as it refers t the rads. Like the adults, the children interviewed as part f family grups were easily able t find bth the matchbx bus and the tea twel (again it tk them slightly lnger t find the tea twel). Neither the adults nr the children felt there was any great issue in displaying the items separately, as lng as bth were clearly marked n the captin rail. One child (again similarly t a few adults) did nt cnsider the pst cards t be part f the grup f suvenirs but examples f where peple in the 60 s wuld g. 4.6 The Backgrund Film: Chelsea Bridge Bys Visitr views n shwing a film t accmpany the display were largely psitive, they thught it wuld bring the display t life and ne felt it wuld draw peple in. A few (wh were interested in the film) were cncerned that they might nt be able t see enugh f it as it might be hidden behind the bjects. Fine, unless yu can t clearly see what is n the film, they shuldn t be blcked by the bjects. Thse wh did nt like the idea cnsidered the film a distractin and ne, wh had already cmmented that the display was busy, thught the film wuld nly add t this. One (elderly respndent) did nt persnally like the idea f displays using different 26

31 media, hwever, she cnsidered it fine fr yunger visitrs, wh she felt were used t multi-fcusing their attentin n a number f things at the same time. 4.7 The Children s Captin The captin aimed at families and children was psitined n the far right f the captin rail, utlined by a red brder and incrprated a cartn picture f a character (and n picture f the dll in the display it was linked t). We explred if visitrs firstly recgnised the captin was aimed at children and families and secndly their views n the design, cntent and suitability in engaging children Design Everybdy recgnised that the captin was different. A number cmmented n the red brder, the funny little character and the fact that it was mre prminent than sme f the ther captins. Red highlight and funky dude in the picture. Althugh the design was perceived as different, a prprtin f visitrs nly realised it was aimed at children nce they had read it rather than inferring this frm the design (althugh a few did recgnise it was aimed at children). This lead t a cncern, that althugh it std ut, it was nt immediately bvius wh it was aimed at. A few thught that as the design did nt immediately jump ut as being aimed at children, it culd be verlked by bth children and their parents (wh wuld nt prmpt children t lk at it). In terms f the design, visitrs made a number f cmments The use f a stylised character A number f visitrs cmmented n the character used t illustrate the captin. A few culd nt wrk ut what it was (a character playing with a dll, a character wearing headphnes? etc). A few, hwever, did cmment that if the same character was used thrughut the gallery then visitrs (particularly adults accmpanied by children) wuld becme primed t lk fr it, thus making it mre effective. Sme thught a picture f the dll shuld have been used instead (r at least shuld have been used alngside the character) as it wuld be mre effective in drawing attentin t the apprpriate bject and be cnsistent with the rest f the display. 27

32 The picture desn t match the dll n display. The use f red Althugh the attempt at making the captin stand ut was nticed and appreciated, a cuple did nt like the chice f clur. They assciated red with stp, a warning, d nt enter etc. and suggested using an alternative clur such as blue r yellw. Style A few cnsidered the design t frmal it did nt lk fun r interactive (which is what they reasned children wuld be interested in) and there was nthing t immediately attract the attentin f children. They thught it wuld be the bject (Daisy the Dll) rather than the captin that wuld attract a child s attentin. The captins culd frm a trail One r tw (wh had recgnised immediately that the captin was fr children) were psitive and thught the way the captin std ut culd help t frm a trail arund the Museum fr children if similar captins were included n a number f displays, Amunt f text A few thught there was t much text t engage children and they wuld be put ff r nt bther t read it all Cntent and questins Once they had either realised r been made aware that the captin was aimed at children, all cnsidered it a gd idea. There were mixed views n the suitability f the infrmatin fr children. Mst accepted that lder children wuld be able t understand what the captin was trying t achieve (althugh a few questined whether lder children wuld be interested). Sme thught that the questins psed wuld be t cmplex fr yunger children and ne cnsidered the first questin related t finding clthes like Daisy s as cnfusing - the clthes in the display were a different clur t the clthes Daisy the dll was wearing View f family grups Unsurprisingly, the idea f including a captin aimed at children in the display was psitively received by family grups. Unlike the adult sample, adults wh where interviewed as part f a family grup identified that the captin was aimed at children 28

33 mre easily (althugh there were a few cmments that the distinctin culd have been clearer). Perhaps this was because they were primed t lk fr infrmatin that wuld be f interest t their children and / r they had already nticed ther captins aimed at children in ther areas f the Museum. Just ne adult in a family grup did nt ntice the captin was aimed at children. The display itself (the dll rather than the captin per se) attracted the attentin f female children. A cuple f yung girls (aged apprximately 4 r 5) wh were interviewed as part f a family grups almst immediately apprached the dll (ne cmmented that it was her favurite part f the display) and pinted it ut t the adult in the grup. They did nt take any ntice f the captin at first, until an adult pinted it ut t them. N bys apprached the dll withut prmpting during the interview (hwever, due t the subject matter this wuld be expected), Unlike sme f the adults withut children, adults in family grups saw mre merit in the infrmatin and questins included abut Daisy the dll. A few cnsidered the questins fine in prmpting children (maybe with a little help) t think abut clthes in the past, which they thught wuld be particularly interesting fr girls. One lder sibling thught the infrmatin was particularly suitable because it fcused n what culd be seen and related t (the clthes) rather than scial trends tuched n in ther areas f the captin rail. One r tw adults in family grups did think there might be a little t much infrmatin and that this might verwhelm yung children. Anther did nt see this as an issue as accmpanying adults wuld be used t helping and prmpting children abut infrmatin and / r questins cntained in captins. 4.8 The Life Stry The life stry is highlighted n the captin rail by a different clur backgrund (grey) and a larger picture f Twiggy. The captin prvided sme backgrund infrmatin abut Twiggy s first uting as a mdel as well as hw she was intrduced t mdeling. There is n bject in the display case. Visitrs were asked what they thught f bth the design and the inclusin f the life stry captin. 29

34 The difference in the captin design was nticed by all visitrs, wh generally cmmented n the different clur backgrund and smetimes the larger picture (f Twiggy). Mst nticed that the text was mre descriptive than in ther captins and a number picked up that it intended t give a snap sht abut a persn wh was imprtant in that particular era. Overall, visitrs picked up that the captin was nt related t an bject in the display case (a few were bserved lking fr an bject). Nt abut an bject, abut a persn, it stands ut. One r tw initially thught the mdel n the frnt f the The Sunday Times magazine was Twiggy. Anther thught the captin was related t the pink Mary Quant dress (they interpreted it as an example f the kind f thing Twiggy might have wrn). The use f Twiggy t represent Swinging Lndn was generally understd by visitrs. She was recgnised as an icn f the 60 s and an bvius example f a key figure frm the fashin scene f Swinging Lndn. A few cmmented that Twiggy wuld nt nly be recgnised by lder adults, but als by yunger peple as she cntinues t be relevant tday (she still features in mdern media and advertising). A few (mainly adult males frm verseas) did nt knw wh Twiggy was and as a result f this, ne cmmented that they were nt interested in the infrmatin. N I am nt interested in her, I dn t knw wh she is. Adults interviewed as part f family grups cnsidered the inclusin f Twiggy as a gd example t illustrate the era. They did nt cnsider the lack f an bject as cnfusing and a cuple f children (aged arund 7) were able t read mst f the infrmatin prvided. One adult interviewed as part f a family grup thught the life stry was particularly interesting and cmmented that they wuld have liked a little mre infrmatin abut Twiggy s backgrund and hw she became famus. 30

35 5 Case B: Gun Pwer 5.1 Intrductin This sectin fcuses n the specific views and reactins frm visitrs t aspects f case B: Gun Pwer. It begins with visitr views n the psitin f the captin rail, then we explre reactins t specific bject and captin relatinships the grup f six flint guns and the pair f flint guns in the gun case. Visitr perceptins f the painting depicting gun use which appears n the captin rail are then explred. A picture f case B: Gun Pwer is shwn belw Figure 2: Case B: Gun Pwer 5.2 Psitin f Captin Rail The psitin f the captin rail at the back f the display case was well received by mst visitrs. This (cmbined with the alignment f the captins and bjects) made it easy fr visitrs t switch frm lking at the bjects t reading the captins. The height f the case itself (and the captin rail) was a cncern fr a few. 2 A cuple f adults 2 The mck up Gun Pwer case was psitined lwer than the planned final display case will be in the lwer gallery. 31

36 thught children wuld attempt t climb n the lw case, indeed, tw did lay ver the case during a family interview and ne started t try and climb nt it befre being stpped). Anther, thught the cmbinatin f a lw captin rail twards the back f the case might make it difficult fr peple with pr eyesight t read (althugh nbdy cmplained f this presenting an issue fr themselves persnally). 5.3 The Six Flint Guns The six flint guns were displayed in the centre f the case and explained by ne captin (directly abve them). They were illustrated n the captin rail by a picture f the six guns in an identical layut t the way they were displayed in the case. Visitrs were asked their views n the idea f six guns being explained by ne set f infrmatin. All visitrs fund the captin that crrespnded t the six flint guns easily. There was cnfusin abut where the captin started and a number f peple said they initially started t read it part way thrugh. The text began belw the infrmatin abut the trade card n the captin rail but the picture f the six flint guns (where peple s eyes were drawn) was psitined at the tp f the next clumn (part way thrugh the captin text). A number f peple cmmented that they had t backtrack t find the start f the text and that the picture shuld be aligned t the start f the text. Visitrs interest in finding ut mre abut ne f the guns in particular was mixed (and generally related t hw interested an individual was in guns in general). Thse wh were nt interested cnsidered the amunt and depth f infrmatin fine and cmmented that there was nthing mre they wanted t find ut. Anther cmmented that as the guns were all quite similar it was nt wrth ging int a great deal f detail abut each ne. Fr smene wh knws nthing [abut guns] the amunt and depth [f infrmatin] is fine. There were cncerns abut the lng blck f text frm bth thse wh were interested and thse wh were less interested in the guns. Thse that were nt interested did nt think they wuld read it and thught they wuld feel less verwhelmed if it was reduced and / r spaced ut a little mre. There s a lt f infrmatin and wrds t take in. 32

37 Thse that were interested thught the infrmatin abut each f the guns culd be rganised in distinct chunks s they culd easily find infrmatin abut each gun. A few thught there was ptential t include mre infrmatin abut each gun (as lng as it was well spaced ut). One r tw (wh were mre engaged in the subject) cmmented that the guns were quite different t each ther and ne nted that, as they spanned a time perid f 135 years (frm 1685 t 1820), they shuld nt be lumped tgether as they wuld be quite different. Anther (wh als wuld have liked mre infrmatin) recgnised the size restrictins f the case and thught that within the cnstraints the amunt f infrmatin was acceptable. Persnally, I wuld like t knw mre abut the guns, but within the restrictins it wrks well. Children in family grups were easily able t match the six guns with the captin, althugh, like the adults, there were prblems lcating the start f the captin. One by was particularly interested in the guns and after reading ut the first part f the captin fund the E-Press pcket gun in the display case. There was a general view that the amunt f infrmatin was sufficient fr children and the layut f the case was effective in enabling them t lk clsely at the guns. One adult asked a child in their grup t cunt the six guns in the case that the captin talked abut, which they were easily able t d. 5.4 The Pair f Flint Guns in the Gun Case There were tw pairs f flint guns in the display, ne n the left (displayed withut a gun case) and ne n the right (inside a gun case with ther equipment). The crrespnding captins were displayed abve the bjects. The mderatr pinted ut the captin that referred t the guns inside the case and asked visitrs t find the crrespnding pair f guns in the display case. All visitrs did this easily (including children). There was n cnfusin with the pair f flint guns f similar size displayed withut the gun case. 33

38 5.5 The Picture n the Captin Rail A picture f a painting by Rbert Cruikshank ( The pint f Hnr decided, r the leaden argument f a lve affair ) painted in 1825 was included n the right hand side f the captin rail. There was n crrespnding bject in the display case. In the main, visitrs thught it was fine t include the painting and cmmented that it helped t put the guns in their histrical cntext. One cnsidered it useful t see hw guns were used aside frm their bvius use during wars. It helps t put it in place the wh, what, when and why. A few thught it might be a distractin (and take the emphasis away frm the guns), while ne thught that, as it did nt refer t an bject, the Museum shuld be explicit abut why they have included it what is its significance? One r tw thught the text label next t the picture was t small. Adults in family grups generally appreciated the painting and thught it wuld encurage children t understand hw these guns were used (fr dueling) and ne cmmented that it livened up the display. One child particularly liked it because it added a bit f clur t the captin rail. 34

39 6 Destructin 6.1 Intrductin This sectin fcuses n the specific views and reactins frm visitrs t aspects f case C: Destructin. It begins with visitr views n the psitin f the captin rail, fllwed by their views n using pictures as the key n the captin rail when the bjects are phtgraphs. Finally, we explre visitr views n the captins related t the bjects in the display case (the incendiary bmbs and detnatr, the casting f the unexplded bmbs and the casualty label and identificatin bracelets). A picture f case C: Destructin is shwn belw. Figure 3: Case C: Destructin 6.2 Psitin f Captin Rail There were mixed views n the psitin f the captin rail (the psitin was prbably the least liked f the three). A number cnsidered it t lw; particularly when they realised they needed t study the pictures by the captins in sme detail and mst bent dwn t d this. One r tw cmmented that the very peple that wuld be interested in 35