Design Features Which Encourage Psychological Flow in Museum Visitors

In this paper, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, Denver Museum of Natural History (DMNH), and Colorado State University, present findings from two studies that established a link between certain design features commonly found in museum environments and the state of psychological flow. Study one observed visitor behavior in a museum hall at DMNH before and after renovation. The study found that after the design changes, visitors attended more to the exhibits. Study two, a post-hoc survey analysis, investigated which design features in particular are responsible for eliciting a high degree of sensory contact from visitors. Analyses revealed that interactive components, multisensory stimulation, and dynamic displays were important design features that influenced flow and immersion.