The theme of the event is access and participation and will look at how museums can use UX techniques to find out how people interact with our cultural spaces.

Dr Frankie Wilson, Head of Assessment at the Bodleian Libraries will lead the event and will use her extensive experience in applying a wide variety of assessment techniques (quantitative, qualitative and user experience), and in training others to apply them.

User experience analysis (UX) is a method of assessment that uses anthropological research methods to gain insight into how users actually behave, and insight into how users engage with a space or service.

Using this form of assessment compliments quantitative data gathering (such as visitor counting and exit surveys) and qualitative data gathering (through interviews and focus groups). It can therefore provide a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the impact on users of factors such as exhibitions layout and signage, of what catches people’s attention, and of how visitors move through spaces, what they value and what acts as obstacles to engagement.

“While surveys can capture what visitors think, remember, or are willing to admit, UX analysis can reveal how people engage with us and use our spaces in a way which enables us to think about, and plan for, how we can improve our visitor experience,” she says.

This full day training session will provide participants with an introduction to user experience analysis; hands on training and practice in three user experience analysis techniques; and experience of transforming the data gathered into insights and service design. The day is designed for people working in the museum and cultural sectors who have responsibility for visitor experience, visitor evaluation and survey design, and public engagement.

Walk a mile in their shoes takes place on Wednesday 5 October from 9am to 5pm at the Headley Lecture Theatre, Ashmolean Museum. For queries, contact [email protected] | 01865 613784.

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