Feeling Flush With Success -- Making Museum Bathrooms Into Exhibition Spaces

You know that moment when you're mid-museum visit and nature calls? You reluctantly tear yourself away from that fascinating display about medieval pottery, trudge to the restroom, and then -- POW! -- you're face-to-face with more educational content. 

Welcome to the wonderful world of bathroom exhibits, where even your most private moments become learning opportunities.

The Captive Audience Advantage

Let's be honest: museum bathrooms have something most exhibition designers can only dream of —a truly captive audience. Where else can you guarantee that visitors will spend at least 60 seconds in one spot, with literally nothing else to do but read what's on the wall? It's an educational ambush at its finest.

The genius lies in the psychology. Your guard is down, and suddenly you're absorbing information about Victorian sanitation practices or the cultural significance of chamber pots.

When Content Meets Context

The best bathroom exhibits don't just happen to be located in restrooms—they're about restrooms. Imagine encountering a mini-exhibit about Roman latrines while you're using a modern equivalent. The contextual connection creates an "aha!" moment that's both humorous and genuinely illuminating.

Historical societies display vintage bathroom advertisements, science centers showcase spaceship toilets, and art museums feature contemporary works, like gold-plated toilets (yes, that's a thing, and Duchamp would be proud).

 

The Unexpected Venue Effect

There's something beautifully subversive about turning society's most private space into a public learning environment. When you encounter a thoughtful exhibit about water conservation while washing your hands, it has a different impact than if you'd seen the same display in a traditional gallery space.

The Bottom Line

Museum bathroom exhibits work because they catch us off guard in the best possible way. They transform a necessity into an opportunity for discovery, reminding us that learning can happen anywhere—even in the most unexpected places.

The next time you find yourself in a museum restroom, don't just use it and leave. Take a moment to appreciate the curatorial audacity of whoever decided that yes, this is precisely where people need to learn about 18th-century chamberpots.

Now get back to those museum bathroom exhibits—and wash your hands!

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Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

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Designing Instagram Moments That Actually Mean Something

People are going to share photographs of your exhibits, whether you design with that purpose in mind or not. The question isn't whether to embrace social media like Instagram, it's how to do it without turning your museum into a themed backdrop factory.

The Balancing Act: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself

Before you add that neon sign or Instagram-ready backdrop, run through this checklist:

1. Does this photo opportunity require engagement with our content? (If visitors can get the shot while ignoring your message, reconsider.)

2. What story will visitors tell when they share this image? (If it's just "I was here," you've missed an opportunity.)

3. Would this element exist if social media didn't? (If the answer is no, think harder about integration.)

4. Does the visual reinforce or compete with our learning objectives? (Competition is a red flag.)

5. Are we creating one Instagram moment or multiple micro-moments throughout the experience? (Spread the social love around.)

When Instagram Actually Makes Exhibits Better

Here's the plot twist: designing with social sharing in mind can make your exhibits more effective, not less. Why? Because it forces you to think about:

 

Emotional impact: What makes people feel something worth sharing?   Personal connection: How does this relate to visitors' own lives?

Clarity of message: Can someone explain your main point in a social media caption?

Memorable moments: What will stick with people after they leave? These are all hallmarks of good exhibit design, Instagram or no Instagram. 

Your 'Gram Plan

1. Audit your current exhibits: Where are people already taking photos? What does that tell you about what resonates?

2. Listen to the captions: What do visitors write when they share images from your space? Are they engaging with your content, or are they just documenting their visit?

 

3. Test the integration: Can someone learn your key message just from the elements that photograph well? If not, strengthen those connections.

4. Embrace the micro-moment: Instead of one big photo op, create multiple smaller moments throughout the experience that reinforce different aspects of your message.

The Bottom Line

Instagram isn't the enemy of good exhibit design—thoughtless pandering to Instagram is. The best social media moments in museums happen when the photo opportunity and the learning objective are so well integrated that they're inseparable.

Your visitors want to share meaningful experiences, not just pretty backgrounds. Give them both, and your educational impact will multiply across social networks.

After all, the best marketing for your next exhibit is visitors who can't stop talking about what they learned at your last one!

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"