Every museum begins with a great experience.
A how-to guide for creating visitor-centered, inclusive museum experiences.
A how-to guide for every museum professional.
Designing Museum Experiences leads readers through the methods and tools of the three stages of a museum visit — pre-visit, in-person visit, and post-visit — with the goal of motivating visitors to return.
Museums are changing from static, encyclopedic institutions to visitor-centric organizations with shared authority, where museum and visitors co-create content. This book makes that transformation actionable.
Pre-visit
Everything that shapes the decision to come: discovery, expectations, planning.
In-person visit
Arrival through departure: every touchpoint designed with intent.
Post-visit
Follow-up, sharing, and the reasons to return: the visitation loop.
“The reason for using the tools is to empower visitors and meet their emotional and intellectual needs, with the goal of creating a lifelong bond between museum and visitor.”
Designing Museum Experiences · Mark WalhimerTemplates, tools, and resources.
The tools referenced in the book, plus the research, toolkits, and case studies behind it.
Museum Toolbox
Empathy maps, personas, journey maps, service blueprints, and six more templates.
Open → 02Resources
Theory of change, community engagement toolkits, placemaking, and the museum inclusion simulator.
Browse → 03Online Course
Build your own visitor-centered museum project, step by step, at museumcourses.com.
Visit ↗Feasibility through opening day.
A personal practice. Every engagement is worked directly; there is no associate who handles the day-to-day. When a board asks who they are hiring, the answer is: Mark.
The plans I produce are designed to be built, not filed. I have been on the other side of the table when a consultant delivers a master plan. I know what happens to that document when the meeting ends.
Mark Walhimer · Managing PartnerEvery museum begins with a conversation.
One hour. No cost. No obligation. Tell me where you are and what you're trying to build.