How Do You Design One Space That Works for All Ages?
Here's a question that keeps exhibit designers up at night: How do you create a single museum experience that genuinely engages a curious five-year-old, their design-savvy parent, and their retired grandparent—all at the same time, without patronizing any of them?
The answer isn't "dumb it down for kids" or "add a separate kids' corner." The secret lies in designing exhibits with multiple entry points and layers of complexity that visitors of any age can explore based on their interests, abilities, and prior knowledge.
Think of it like a great Pixar movie. There are jokes for the kids and cultural references for the adults. Nobody feels left out, and everyone leaves satisfied.
Let's explore how to replicate this same trick in physical exhibit spaces with a few concrete strategies, as well as some “Do’s and Don’ts.”
Strategy #1: Use Real Materials and Authentic Complexity
Don't use toy versions of real tools. Don't oversimplify because "kids won't get it." Children smell condescension a mile away, and adults resent being treated like children.
Instead, use professional-grade materials with appropriate safety measures. Real woodworking tools. Actual scientific equipment. Genuine art supplies. The challenge scales naturally—a beginner and an expert can both work with real materials, and both will be appropriately challenged.
Strategy #2: Open-Ended Creation Without "Right Answers"
Design and making spaces where the goal is creation, not completion. Digital design tools, art studios, building zones—anywhere the question is "what do you want to make?" rather than "can you solve this?"
This works because:
• No "right answer" exists—a child's creation is as valid as an adult's.
• Aesthetic appreciation transcends age.
• Multiple roles emerge naturally—one person creates while another offers ideas.
Strategy #3: Provide Multiple Paths to the Same Insight
Don't assume everyone learns the same way. Instead, build in options:
• Hands-on manipulation for kinesthetic learners
• Data visualization for analytical thinkers
• Personal stories for emotional connectors
• Clear explanatory text for readers
• Video or audio for those who prefer multimedia
A ten-year-old might gravitate to hands-on components while their parent connects with data. Both reach understanding through their preferred door.
Some Do's and Don'ts
DON'T:
• Use baby talk or condescending language
• Create "dumbed down" labels that insult adult intelligence
• Assume physical limitations based on age
• Make one age group the "helper" and another the "learner"
• Use toy versions of real tools or fake materials
• Create separate "kids sections" and "adult sections"
DO:
• Use clear, direct language that respects intelligence at any age
• Design for sitting, standing, and wheelchair users simultaneously
• Create sight lines that work for different heights without segregating
• Make the first action obvious, but deeper exploration optional
• Test with real intergenerational groups, not age-segregated focus groups
The best intergenerational exhibit design isn't about compromise—it's about richness. When you design with genuine depth, multiple modalities, and respect for every visitor's intelligence, remarkable things can happen.
A three-year-old and a 73-year-old can stand side by side, both fully engaged, both learning, both having their unique experience validated. That's not just good design—that's what museums are supposed to do.
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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