Summative Evaluation of the Design Build Fly Exhibition & Program Series for Exploration Place
Client: Exploration Place | Location: Wichita, KS | Funding: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
We measured how visitors used, made meaning of, and were impacted by the Design, Build, Fly exhibition and program series developed by Exploration Place.
OVERVIEW
In 2018, we worked with Exploration Place to conduct a summative evaluation of Design Build Fly. By exploring what happens behind-the-scenes in Wichita’s aircraft plants, the exhibition and public program series aimed to showcase the complexity of aviation and to imbue in local visitors a sense of pride in Wichita’s aviation industry.
APPROACH
The goals of the study were to identify how visitors used and constructed meaning from Design Build Fly as well as to gauge participants’ perceptions of Wichita’s aviation industry.
We conducted timing and tracking observations of visitors to the exhibition and in-depth interviews with two groups: casual walk-in visitors to the exhibition/daily programs and adolescents who attended an after-hours family event.
CLIENT TAKEAWAYS
We found that Design Build Fly left audiences with a new appreciation for the complexity of the aviation production process and aviation careers. Visitors used many of the exhibition components and were highly social during their visits. Immersive experiences such as stepping into a deconstructed aircraft were particularly appealing to visitors. We also found that, after associated family events, most adolescents were able to name both technical and social skills required for successful aviation careers.
However, results also indicated that visitors’ feelings of pride in Wichita’s aviation industry were lacking. Changing visitors’ feelings towards an entire industry is no easy task, especially after a single exhibition or program visit. We recommended that Exploration Place bolster the frequency and consistency of the Design Build Fly programs and enlist aviation professionals to share their passions for the industry at family events to help deepen local visitors’ pride in Wichita’s aviation heritage.
